This week, a man who was convicted for the brutal murder of a married couple over thirty years ago faced execution, and his final words were notably direct.
Victor Tony Jones was executed by lethal injection at the Florida State Prison located near Starke on Tuesday evening, dated September 30.
At the age of 64, Jones was found guilty of the 1990 killings of Jacob and Matilda Nestor. They owned a medical supply business in Miami’s Wynwood area, long before it evolved into its current status as a trendy arts district.
Jones, who had only recently been employed by the couple, fatally stabbed Matilda in the neck and Jacob in the chest during a robbery attempt.
Despite sustaining life-threatening injuries, Jacob managed to reach an office, retrieve a pistol, and fire five shots at Jones, with one striking him in the forehead. The police discovered Jones bleeding and in possession of the couple’s cash and personal items.
He survived his injuries, was hospitalized, and later, in 1993, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and armed robbery, receiving a death sentence.
This execution was the 13th to be carried out in Florida this year, ranking it as the state with the most executions in the U.S. this year, surpassing even Texas.
The execution protocol commenced at exactly 6:00 pm local time. When asked for final words, Jones simply stated, “no, sir,” which were his last words.
A few minutes into the procedure, the warden addressed him by name and gently shook him, but he did not respond.
A medical professional arrived soon after and declared him dead at 6:13 pm. Officials confirmed that the execution proceeded without complications.
Irene Fisher, the daughter of the murdered couple, witnessed the execution alongside her daughters and other family members. She expressed mixed emotions.
“After seeing what I saw tonight, I wish my parents had that opportunity to die so gracefully, close your eyes and just go,” she remarked.
“They were violently killed. My father fought for 20 minutes with a stab wound in his heart, and my mother died instantly in the bathroom on a cold floor.”
The former location of the Nestor shop now operates as a community center. “My parents would have loved that because they were always helping people in the community,” Irene added.
Jones had made a last-ditch appeal, referencing alleged abuse in his childhood and claims of intellectual disability, but the appeal was dismissed.
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected his final appeal just hours before the execution, offering no comment on the decision.
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