In a record 19th execution of Florida this year, a man convicted of a brutal home-invasion murder was put to death Thursday evening.
Execution Details
Frank Athen Walls, 58, was pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m. after a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. The injection consisted of a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, the state Department of Corrections says.
The curtain to the death chamber was drawn precisely at the scheduled 6 p.m. execution time. Walls was already strapped to the gurney, covered mostly by a blanket, with his left arm extended and an IV in place. A Catholic priest sat at the foot of the gurney, his right hand extended toward Walls’ lower leg.
Walls apologized in a brief statement. Alex Lanfranconi, a spokesman for Gov. Ron DeSantis, relayed the last words from the scene. “Good evening, everyone. I appreciate the opportunity to say what’s on my heart. If any of the members of the family are here, I am sorry for all of the things I did, the pain I caused, and all of that you have suffered all these years,” Walls was quoted as saying.
After the statement, the execution began while the priest remained, apparently praying beside Walls. Walls began to breathe heavily for several minutes and appeared to lose consciousness. A warden shook Walls several times and shouted his name, getting no response. Walls’ breathing eventually stopped. A medic was called in several minutes later, and the inmate was then pronounced dead. At that point, the priest knelt on the floor and made the sign of the cross.
Background of the Conviction
Walls was convicted of two counts of murder and other charges and sentenced to death in 1988. The Florida Supreme Court later reversed the conviction and ordered a new trial, and Walls was again convicted and sentenced to death in 1992 for the murders of Edward Alger and his girlfriend, Ann Peterson.
The Crime and Investigation
Court records indicate Walls broke into the Florida Panhandle mobile home of Alger, an Eglin Air Force Base airman, and his girlfriend in July 1987. Walls tied the couple up, but Alger managed to break free and attack Walls. Walls cut Alger’s throat and then shot him in the head when the airman continued to fight. Walls then attacked Peterson and shot her as she struggled.
Walls was arrested the day after the bodies were found when his roommate tipped off police about Walls’ odd behavior. During a search of the home, investigators reported finding items from the crime scene, and Walls later admitted to the killings.
After Walls’ conviction, DNA evidence linked him to the May 1987 rape and killing of a woman, Audrey Gygi. Walls pleaded no contest, avoiding another trial and possible death sentence. Walls also admitted responsibility for the killings of Tommie Lou Whiddon in March 1985 and Cynthia Sue Condra in September 1986 as part of a deal with prosecutors.
Legal Proceedings and Appeals
The U.S. Supreme Court denied Walls’ request for a stay of execution on Thursday afternoon. Earlier in the day, Walls met with one visitor as well as a spiritual adviser and had a meal of steak, chicken and cheesecake, authorities said.
Governor DeSantis and the Death Penalty
DeSantis, the Republican who signed the death warrant, has ordered more executions in a single year than any Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in the U.S. in 1976. The previous state record was eight executions in 2014. DeSantis said earlier this year that his goal is to bring justice to victims’ families who have waited decades for the death sentences to be carried out.
Context of Florida Executions
Including Walls, a total of 47 men have died by court-ordered execution so far this year in the U.S., and more than a dozen other people are scheduled to be put to death in 2026. Florida has executed more people than any other state this year, followed by Alabama, South Carolina and Texas with five each.
Key Takeaways
- Frank Athen Walls, 58, was executed at 6:11 p.m. Thursday after a three-drug injection.
- Walls was convicted in 1988, retried and re-sentenced to death in 1992 for the murders of Edward Alger and Ann Peterson.
- Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, has overseen the most executions in a single year since 1976, with 19 executions in 2025.
The execution of Frank Athen Walls marks the latest in a series of deaths carried out by the state of Florida, underscoring the high volume of capital punishment cases in the U.S. and the ongoing debate over the death penalty’s application.
