DeSantis Issued 20th Death Warrant of 2026
The warrant for Jesse Guardado marks a new modern-era record for death warrants issued in one year in Florida.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Criminal Justice
Governor Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant on Oct. 5, 2026, for Jesse Guardado, who was convicted of a 2004 murder. This action establishes a new state record for the most death warrants issued by a governor in a single year.
Why it matters
The governor stated that the issuance of this warrant ensures that victims' families receive long-awaited justice. This decision follows a unanimous jury recommendation for the death penalty and a 2007 Florida Supreme Court ruling that upheld the sentence.
Florida has issued 20 death warrants in 2026, surpassing the previous record of 19 set in 2025. Currently, 16 individuals have been executed in the state this year.
The players
Ron DeSantis
He serves as the Governor of Florida and holds the authority to sign death warrants for prisoners sentenced to capital punishment.
Jesse Guardado
He is a 64-year-old death row inmate who was convicted of the 2004 murder of Jackie Malone.
Florida Supreme Court
This is the highest judicial body in the state, which upheld the death sentence for Guardado in 2007.
Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys
This former reform school in Florida is historically significant due to reports of systemic abuse against students.
The details
Jesse Guardado, 64, confessed to the 2004 murder of 75-year-old Jackie Malone in Walton County. Guardado is a former attendee of the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys and is currently scheduled for execution on Nov. 5, 2026.
Timeline
Jackie Malone was murdered in 2004.
The Florida Supreme Court upheld the death sentence in 2007.
Governor DeSantis signed the death warrant on Oct. 5, 2026.
James Robertson and William Lee Thompson are scheduled for execution on Oct. 13, 2026.
Jesse Guardado is scheduled for execution on Nov. 5, 2026.
Legal Context
This action follows the precedent set by the 2025 record of 19 death warrants issued by the governor. The current pace reflects an acceleration in the use of executive warrants in the state's capital punishment system.
The scheduling of multiple executions in rapid succession may impact local operations at the Florida State Prison facility. Residents and local businesses should remain aware of potential security or traffic adjustments near the facility during these scheduled events.
The takeaway
The state has reached a new peak in the application of capital punishment warrants this year. This case highlights the long-standing judicial processes that conclude with executive action after decades of legal review.
Further reading
For more information on state sentencing and capital punishment procedures, visit the Criminal Justice section.
