David Pittman, 63, will be executed in Florida on September 17, according to the death warrant signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. This is the 12th execution scheduled for 2025, marking a record for the state since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976.

So far this year, Florida has executed nine people, surpassing any other state. Texas and South Carolina are second with four each. In total, 28 executions have been recorded in the United States in 2025, matching the number reached in 2015, AP reported.

The crime

The murders for which Pittman was convicted occurred in May 1990, in the midst of divorce proceedings with his then-wife, Marie.

According to the investigation, Pittman went to the residence of Marie's parents, Clarence and Barbara Knowles, in Polk County. There he fatally stabbed them, as well as his younger daughter, Bonnie Knowles, his ex-wife's sister. He then set fire to the home and fled in Bonnie's car, which he also set on fire.

A witness identified him escaping from the burning vehicle, while a prison informant later testified that Pittman had confessed to the murders to him.

In 1991, Pittman was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder, as well as arson and grand theft. The jury recommended the death penalty, a sentence that remains in place after multiple appeals.

Pending Appeals

Pittman's defense team is still pursuing legal proceedings. The Florida Supreme Court has scheduled an appeal hearing, and an appeal is also expected to be filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in a last-ditch attempt to stop the execution. Meanwhile, two other Florida death row inmates, Kayle Bates and Curtis Windom, They also have their executions scheduled for the end of this month.