Overview

• Edward Thomas James, 63, was executed on March 20, 2025, for the 1993 rape and murder of 8-year-old Toni Neuner and the stabbing death of her grandmother, Betty Dick.
• James pleaded guilty to the crimes and was sentenced to death in 1995 following an 11-1 jury recommendation.
• His attorneys argued that his cognitive decline, mental illness, and substance abuse history made his execution unconstitutional, but these appeals were denied by state and federal courts.
• James' execution was the second in Florida this year and the fourth in the United States this week, highlighting the ongoing use of capital punishment in the country.
• The case underscores broader debates about the death penalty, including its fairness and the treatment of mental health issues within the criminal justice system.