Curtis Windom, convicted of murdering three people in 1992, was executed Thursday evening at Florida State Prison after more than three decades on death row.
According to Daily Mail, Windom’s death by lethal injection proceeded as scheduled, despite a public plea for clemency from his daughter, who is also the child of one of his victims.
Windom, 59, was sentenced to death for the November 1992 killings of his girlfriend, Valerie Davis; her mother, Mary Lubin; and a man named Johnnie Lee, who Windom claimed owed him a $2,000 debt. The murders occurred in Winter Garden, part of the Orlando metropolitan area. The crime left a deep scar on the community—and on Windom's own family.
According to court documents, Windom became enraged after learning Lee had recently won $114 at a greyhound racetrack. He had frequently spoken about the money Lee owed him and even warned a friend with chilling words: “You’re gonna read about me.”
He then purchased a .38-caliber revolver and ammunition from a Walmart store before launching a fatal series of attacks. On November 7, 1992, Windom shot Lee twice in the back while Lee was inside his car. Prosecutors said it was a calculated act of revenge.
Family Members Become Both Victims and Advocates
Following the killing of Lee, Windom turned his weapon on his girlfriend, Valerie Davis. She was gunned down in her apartment in front of a witness, without warning or provocation. In the same rampage, Windom also shot another man, who survived the attack. Windom was later sentenced to an additional 22 years for that attempted murder.
Shortly after these incidents, Mary Lubin, Davis’s mother, arrived at her daughter’s apartment. She was sitting in her vehicle near a stop sign when Windom approached and shot her twice, killing her instantly. That marked the third and final fatality in the spree.
Windom was later apprehended and charged with multiple offenses. At trial, prosecutors painted a portrait of a man driven by anger, vengeance, and a need to settle scores through violence.
Daughter Forgives Father and Campaigns for Clemency
The story took a personal turn in the years leading up to Windom’s execution. His daughter, Curtisia Windom—whose mother was one of his victims—publicly forgave her father and worked to halt his execution. She not only reconciled with him but also delivered over 5,000 petition signatures to Florida’s governor in hopes of obtaining clemency.
“It hurt. It hurt a lot. Life was not easy growing up,” Curtisia said in a statement provided through an anti-capital punishment organization. She went on to describe her long journey toward forgiveness, writing, “Forgiveness comes with time, and 33 years is a long time. I, myself, have forgiven my father.”
She questioned why others—those not directly impacted by the crime—felt entitled to support capital punishment. “But if we could forgive him, I don’t see why people on the street who haven’t been through our pain have a right to say he should die,” she added.
Relatives of Victims Express Support for Execution
While Curtisia advocated against the execution, other family members of the victims held different views. Kemene Hunter, sister of Valerie Davis, wore a shirt reading “Justice for her, healing for me” during a press briefing after the execution.
Hunter expressed that the moment brought her peace. “All I want to say is, it took 33 years to get some closure,” she stated. She also invoked scripture, quoting, “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.”
Windom exhausted multiple legal options over the years. His defense team argued that his mental health was not adequately considered during his initial trial and sentencing. Despite these claims, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his final appeal just one day before his scheduled execution.
Final Moments and State's Execution Record
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis previously signed the death warrant for Windom, one of several he has authorized this year. Windom's execution marks the 11th to occur in Florida in 2025, making the state the most active in capital punishment this year. Nationally, it was the 30th execution this calendar year.
Windom’s final meal consisted of a hearty Southern spread: ribs, potato salad, baked beans, collard greens, pie, ice cream, and a soda. At 6:17 p.m. on August 28, he was pronounced dead following the lethal injection procedure.
Onlookers observed that Windom offered final words, but they were not clearly understood. Witnesses noted that he took several breaths during the process and that his legs twitched slightly before he became still.
Florida's Death Row Continues to Shrink
As the state of Florida continues to lead the nation in executions, more death row inmates are scheduled to die in the coming months. Among them is David Joseph Pittman, whose execution is set for September 17, 2025, according to state officials.
Windom's execution closes a chapter on one of Florida’s most enduring cases, beginning with a violent triple homicide more than three decades ago and ending with the state's 11th lethal injection this year.
The diverging views within Windom’s own family underscore longstanding national debates surrounding the death penalty, forgiveness, and criminal justice reform. For some, justice was finally served; for others, the execution reopened old wounds.
