A petition for a stay of execution for a convicted Charlotte County murderer was denied by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Lawyers for James Ford appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday after the Florida Supreme Court rejected arguments to prevent the execution.
Ford’s lawyers contend that he had the mental and developmental age of a 14-year-old when he murdered Greg and Kimberly Malnory at a Charlotte County sod farm in 1997.
Ford was 36 years old at the time of the murders.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant for Ford on Jan. 10. Ford would be the first person executed in Florida this year.
Ford's execution is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 13, according to court documents.