By Brendan Farrington -
The Associated Press
A man known as the "killer ninja" was executed Wednesday in Florida for the deaths of a New Jersey couple who were visiting the state in 1989.
Louis Bernard Gaskin, 56, was pronounced dead at 6:15 pm (local time) after receiving a lethal injection
, the governor's office said.
Gaskin was sentenced for the death of Robert Sturmfels, 56, and Georgette Sturmfels, 55, on December 20, 1989, at their winter home in Flagler County, on the northeast coast of Florida.
The Last Supper
Gaskin woke up at 4:45 am Wednesday and had his last dinner at 9:45 am, Department of Corrections spokeswoman Kayla McLaughlin said during a news conference.
The meal included BBQ pork ribs, turkey and pork neck, chicken wings, shrimp fried rice, French fries and water.
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Gaskin's sister visited him on Wednesday.
The inmate did not meet with a spiritual advisor, McLaughlin said.
There were no relatives of the victims in the witness room during the execution.
The execution, scheduled for 6:00 p.m., began without delay.
Asked if he had any final words, Gaskin said: "Justice is about the crime. It's not about the criminal. It's about the law."
Gaskin then touched on the legal procedure in his case and the appeals, ending his statement by saying, "Please review my case."
Gaskin began receiving the lethal cocktail of drugs at 6:02 p.m.
, causing him to breathe heavily.
His chest rose and fell under a white sheet.
The prison warden went to check if Gaskin was still conscious at 6:05 pm The inmate did not respond.
Gaskin's breathing appeared to have stopped at 6:07 pm A doctor entered the death chamber at 6:14 pm to examine him and pronounced him dead a minute later.
Florida Governor Signs More Executions
Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor of Florida, has been signing death warrants at a rapid pace this year as he prepares for his highly anticipated presidential campaign.
During his first four years in office, DeSantis signed just two executions, both in 2019.
This execution took place six weeks after 59-year-old Donald Dillbeck was executed for the death of 44-year-old Faye Vann in Tallahassee in 1990, and three weeks before the scheduled execution of Darryl B. Barwick, for the death of 24-year-old Rebecca Wendt in 1986 in Panama City.
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If Barwick's execution is not postponed, this will be the shortest three executions have been carried out in Florida since three inmates were executed in a 36-day period in 2014, during the Administration of Gov. Rick Scott, also republican.
Gaskin's death marked the 100th execution since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976.
In Florida, 297 people are on death row, located at Florida State Prison, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southwest of Jacksonville.
[Texas prepares the execution of another inmate: it is the fourth of the year to receive the lethal injection in the state]
Gaskin, who was dubbed the "killer ninja" because he wore black clothing during his crimes, shot his victims with a .22 caliber rifle, investigators said.
He was found guilty of first degree murder.
Items he stole from the Sturmfels' home – a watch, two lamps and a VCR – were found at his residence.
He planned to give them to his girlfriend for Christmas, according to investigators.
Gaskin was also found guilty of armed robbery, robbery and attempted murder of another couple who lived nearby that same night.
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Local media reported at the time that Gaskin quickly confessed to his crimes and told a psychologist during the trial that he knew what he was doing.
"The guilt was always there," Gaskin said.
"The devil had me more than God. I knew what he was doing was wrong. It was crazy."
[Three dead, including a minor, after shooting at a Florida home where police responded for domestic violence]
Jurors voted 8-4 in 1990 to recommend the death penalty, which the judge accepted.
Florida law now requires a unanimous vote for capital punishment
, though the legislature could send DeSantis legislation this week that would allow 8-4 jury votes for this process.
The state and the US Supreme Court have rejected Gaskin's appeals since his death sentence was signed.
The last refusal took place on Tuesday.
