A man convicted of murdering a Charlotte County couple in 1997 is set to be put to death after the Florida Supreme Court denied a request to halt the upcoming execution.
James D. Ford is scheduled to be put to death at 6 p.m. on Feb. 13, marking Florida's first execution of 2025.
Ford's attorneys had filed a motion for a stay of execution last week, arguing that new evidence had emerged regarding Ford's "mental impairments."
They claimed that Ford had the mental and developmental age of a 14-year-old at the time of the murders and attempted to compare the case to the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision Roper v. Simmons , which bars executing individuals who were under 18 at the time of their crimes.
Ultimately, the Florida Supreme Court unanimously denied the motion, stating that Ford had not presented sufficient grounds for relief.
The Attorney General's Office opposed the motion, arguing that Ford's claim was untimely and that the victims' family had a right to a timely resolution.
Ford was sentenced to death in 1999 after being convicted for the double murder of Charlotte County couple, Greg and Kimberly Malnory.
The couple was reportedly found shot and beaten to death at South Florida Sod Farm in Charlotte County on April 7, 1997.
According to court documents, the couple worked with Ford. They had a toddler in their truck and were out on a fishing trip with Ford at the time of their murder.
The toddler was reportedly left inside the truck for more than 18 hours.
*WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAILS BELOW*
Ford shot Greg Malnory in the back of the head before repeatedly beating him in the face and head with a blunt weapon and slitting his throat, according to court documents.
Kimberly Malnory's body was reportedly found near the truck where documents said she had nine blunt-force injuries to her head, as well as a gunshot through her mouth and defensive wounds on her arms.
Ford was also convicted of sexual battery and child neglect and he will now be the first executed death warrant of 2025.
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