STARKE, Fla. — A former Marine is set to be executed Thursday for the 1979 murder of six-year-old Rebecca Kunash, marking the 16th execution under Governor Ron DeSantis, who has made a significant push to advance capital punishment in Florida. If the execution proceeds as scheduled, Bryan Frederick Jennings, 66, will receive lethal injection at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison.
Jennings has been convicted of Kunash’s murder on three separate occasions, with the first two convictions overturned on appeal. His final conviction in 1986 led to the death sentence that remained in place until now. The U.S. Supreme Court denied his most recent appeal just a day before his execution.
Court documents detail the horrifying events that unfolded on May 11, 1979. Jennings, then a 20-year-old Marine on leave, allegedly entered Kunash’s home, abducted her from her bedroom, and took her to a nearby canal. He was later accused of sexually assaulting her before inflicting a fatal blow that fractured her skull. After the brutal act, her body was discovered later that day in the water, prompting a swift investigation.
Authorities apprehended Jennings hours after the crime when he was pulled over for a traffic violation. Evidence quickly linked him to the murder scene; shoe prints and fingerprints matched his, while his clothing showed signs he had been in the water.
Governor DeSantis has advocated for a swift pace regarding executions, arguing that it is essential to provide closure to families of victims who have waited years for justice. He remarked that some of the crimes predate the 1980s, emphasizing his belief that “justice delayed is justice denied.” This year alone, Florida has seen a record number of executions, surpassing the previous high set in 2014.
After Jennings’s execution, Florida plans to carry out two more before the end of the year, raising the total for 2023 to 18. These upcoming executions include Richard Barry Randolph on Nov. 20 and Mark Allen Geralds on Dec. 9.
Despite his looming execution, Jennings has consistently filed appeals, claiming he was denied proper legal representation for an extended period before his death warrant was signed. His legal team argues he has not undergone a clemency hearing since 1988, calling into question the fairness of his treatment within the justice system.
A group opposing capital punishment, Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, has criticized the execution process in Florida as being overly politicized. Maria DeLiberato, the group’s legal and policy director, stated that Jennings’s case reflects broader systemic issues, asserting he was left without legal counsel for years and faced unfair processes due to political motivations.
In addition to his murder charge, the courts also sentenced Jennings to life imprisonment for charges related to kidnapping, sexual assault, and burglary. As of this year, 40 individuals have been executed nationwide, with several more scheduled for the coming months. Florida’s lethal injection protocol includes a series of drugs designed to sedate, paralyze, and ultimately stop the heart of the condemned.