After nearly three decades on death row, Curtis Wilkie Beasley faced his final hours. The Florida inmate, condemned for Carolyn Monfort’s murder, offered an apology before a lethal injection ended his life at 77. But before entering the death chamber, he requested one last meal, a simple selection that stood in stark contrast to the crime behind his sent… Continues…
Beasley chose grilled cheese sandwiches and ice cream, according to a Florida Department of Corrections spokesman cited by the Associated Press. Florida permits condemned inmates to request a final meal costing no more than $40, using locally available food. On Tuesday, a spiritual adviser sat beside him during the execution at Florida State Prison near Starke. Before the drugs were administered, he said, “I want to apologize for all the mistakes I made.” He was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m.
The case began in August 1995, when Monfort’s daughter found her mother dead inside her Dundee home after being unable to reach her for two days. Investigators discovered a bloodied hammer head nearby, and a witness linked Beasley to Monfort’s vehicle. He was later arrested after fleeing Florida and convicted in 1998 of murder, robbery and grand theft auto. No public statements from either family were reported following the execution.