David Joseph Pittman, a 63-year-old Florida inmate, is set to be executed on September 17, 2025, marking a new chapter in the state’s contentious history with the death penalty. The death warrant, signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on August 15, 2025, pushes Florida to an unprecedented pace, with Pittman’s execution representing the twelfth scheduled for the year—a record since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, according to Newsweek and the Associated Press.
Pittman’s case has long stood as a grim reminder of the violent events that unfolded in May 1990. At the time, Pittman and his wife, Marie, were embroiled in divorce proceedings. On a fateful day, Pittman traveled to the Polk County home of Marie’s parents, Clarence and Barbara Knowles. There, he fatally stabbed the elderly couple along with their younger daughter, Bonnie, before setting the house ablaze. He then stole Bonnie’s car, drove off, and set it on fire as well. Investigators later identified Pittman as the man running from the burning vehicle, and a jailhouse informant testified that Pittman had confessed to the killings.
In 1991, a jury convicted Pittman on three counts of first-degree murder, as well as arson and grand theft. His conviction and death sentence were handed down in the Circuit Court for the Tenth Judicial Circuit in Polk County, with the mandatory death penalty appeal docketed on September 16, 1991, as detailed in Florida Supreme Court case SC1960-78605. The legal saga has stretched across more than three decades, with appeals and counter-appeals weaving through both the state and federal court systems.
This year’s execution schedule has placed Florida in the national spotlight. With nine executions already carried out in 2025, Florida leads the nation, outpacing Texas and South Carolina, which have each executed four people this year. The United States as a whole has seen 28 executions so far in 2025, surpassing the 25 conducted in 2024 and tying the total from 2015, according to the Associated Press. The Sunshine State’s previous annual high was eight executions in 2014.
Governor DeSantis’s approach to capital punishment has been assertive. Alongside Pittman’s death warrant, DeSantis also signed warrants for Kayle Bates and Curtis Windom, both of whom await execution later in August. The governor’s stated goal is to address Florida’s death row backlog, which currently exceeds 300 inmates—a staggering figure that underscores the state’s complex relationship with the ultimate penalty. As Newsweek reports, this aggressive schedule has placed Florida at the center of a renewed national debate about the death penalty’s efficacy, morality, and legal consistency.
The evidence against Pittman was, by all accounts, substantial. In addition to the eyewitness who placed him at the scene of the burning car, a jailhouse informant recounted Pittman’s admission of guilt. Jurors found these testimonies compelling, leading to his conviction not only for murder but also for arson and grand theft. Yet, the case has not been without its legal twists and turns. The Florida Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Pittman’s latest appeal, with defense attorneys facing an expedited timeline: writ petitions are due by 1 p.m. on August 29, and the full record on appeal must be submitted by 5 p.m. that same day. All further proceedings are to be completed by 11 a.m. on August 29, according to court documents cited by Newsweek.
Should the state’s highest court uphold the conviction and sentence, Pittman’s legal team is expected to file additional appeals with federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. The compressed schedule leaves little room for error or delay, and oral arguments may be scheduled if deemed necessary. If all appeals are unsuccessful, Pittman will be executed at Florida State Prison in Starke, with lethal injection as the prescribed method.
Florida’s accelerated execution pace has reignited broader questions about the death penalty in the United States. Supporters of capital punishment argue that the state is finally addressing decades of legal inertia and delivering long-overdue justice to victims’ families. They contend that the death penalty serves as a deterrent and a necessary tool for the most heinous crimes. Governor DeSantis, for his part, has repeatedly emphasized his commitment to upholding the law and ensuring that sentences handed down by juries are carried out without undue delay.
Opponents, however, raise concerns about the risks of wrongful convictions, the uneven application of the death penalty, and the ethical implications of state-sanctioned execution. They point to the lengthy and costly appeals process, the potential for judicial errors, and the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities. Nationally, the debate remains as polarized as ever, with some states moving to abolish capital punishment altogether while others, like Florida, double down on its use.
The Pittman case is emblematic of these tensions. On one hand, the brutality of the crime and the weight of the evidence have left little doubt in the minds of many Floridians about the appropriateness of the sentence. On the other, the relentless pace of executions and the sheer number of death warrants issued this year have prompted renewed scrutiny from legal experts, advocacy groups, and international observers.
For the families of Clarence, Barbara, and Bonnie Knowles, the impending execution may bring a sense of closure after decades of legal proceedings. Yet, for Pittman and his defenders, the fight is far from over. The coming weeks will see a flurry of legal filings, last-minute appeals, and, potentially, stays of execution as the courts weigh the final arguments. Should all efforts fail, Pittman’s execution will proceed as scheduled, further cementing Florida’s status as the state with the most executions in 2025.
As the clock ticks down to September 17, all eyes remain on the Florida Supreme Court, the governor’s office, and the broader national conversation about the future of the death penalty in America. The outcome of Pittman’s case may not only determine the fate of one man but also shape the trajectory of capital punishment policy for years to come.
With the legal, moral, and political stakes running high, Florida’s record-breaking execution schedule stands as both a symbol of the state’s resolve and a flashpoint in the ongoing American debate over life, death, and justice.
