RAIFORD, Fla. — Samuel Smithers, 72, was executed Tuesday evening, marking the latest chapter in a controversial case that dates back to 1996. Smithers was convicted of murdering two women in Plant City, a suburb of Tampa, and became the oldest individual executed in Florida since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
The execution took place at 6:15 p.m. EDT at Florida State Prison. Smithers is now the 14th inmate executed in the state this year, surpassing the previous record of eight executions in 2014. This trend has sparked ongoing debates about the death penalty in Florida, which has become the U.S. leader in executions in 2025.
Smithers, a former church deacon, led a seemingly normal life as a family man while allegedly engaging in a double life that led him to a Tampa street notorious for prostitution. His criminal undertakings earned him the moniker “Deacon of Death.” The bodies of the victims, both sex workers, were discovered after a property owner alerted authorities about disturbing activity on the lot he rented to Smithers.
Investigators uncovered evidence at the scene, including drag marks in the grass, which led them to a pond where the two victims — Christie Cowan and Denise Roach — were found. Cowan’s body, recovered from the water, showed evidence of manual strangulation and head trauma. Roach’s death was equally brutal, with multiple stab wounds and signs of strangulation.
Smithers admitted to the crimes after failing a polygraph test, although he offered varying accounts of the events during his trial. Initially, he claimed both murders stemmed from altercations with the victims but later suggested he was coerced by an unknown man involved in drug trafficking. The jury, weighing both the mitigating factors of Smithers’ upbringing and the heinous nature of the murders, ultimately sentenced him to death in June 1999.
Over the years, Smithers pursued multiple appeals, claiming ineffective legal representation and asserting that his advanced age should exempt him from execution. His arguments, however, were rejected by the courts, which cited the premeditated nature of his crimes.
On the day of his execution, around 30 protesters gathered outside the prison, a noticeably smaller turnout compared to previous demonstrations. Many attendees were affiliated with the Our Lady of Lourdes church in Daytona Beach, where community members expressed concern over Smithers’ age and alleged mental health issues. Grace Hanna, an organizer for opposition groups, criticized the execution as unnecessary, emphasizing that Smithers posed no danger after spending three decades on death row.
In stark contrast, a lone supporter of the execution stood nearby, viewing the death penalty as a necessary form of justice. Bill Campbell, holding a sign listing recent executions, stated his purpose was to provide a counter-narrative to the protestors outside the prison gates.
As the sun set, the protests intensified, with demonstrators loudly expressing their disapproval of the death penalty, calling it a perpetuation of violence rather than a deterrent. The discourse reflecting the ongoing tension surrounding capital punishment highlighted a societal split on the issue, with supporters and opponents alike keenly aware of its implications.
Smithers’ execution raises enduring questions about the application and morality of capital punishment, particularly concerning age, mental health, and the broader impacts on society. As Florida’s execution numbers continue to climb, the debate surrounding the death penalty remains as vibrant as ever.