Florida Plans Three Executions Between November 19 and December 10 as Advocates Push Back

Campaigners point to a claim of innocence, a divided resentencing jury, and the age of an 80-year-old man, while the cases remain tied to the deaths of victims whose families have waited for years.

Three men are scheduled to be executed in Florida over a span of just three weeks, and the first date is days away. According to campaign materials circulating among death penalty opponents, the state plans to execute Thomas Overton on November 19, Ricardo “Ricky” Gonzalez on December 1 at 6 p.m., and Willie Crain, Jr. on December 10, 2026, also at 6 p.m. Each case carries its own history and its own set of disputed questions, and each is the subject of calls for clemency or reconsideration. This article reviews what the campaign says about each man, notes where the claims have not been independently verified, and keeps in view that the underlying cases involve people who were killed and families who have lived with that loss. Readers interested in more of our death penalty coverage will find additional updates there.

Thomas Overton, November 19

The earliest date belongs to Thomas Overton. Advocates say Florida plans to execute him on November 19 despite what they describe as a credible claim of innocence. The campaign also argues that some details in his appeals are so striking that they sound invented, and it points to one example in particular: that police handed evidence to a psychic, who then handled it without gloves. Those assertions come from the advocates, and we have not independently verified them or reviewed the court record. The material available to us does not describe the crime for which Overton was convicted, the evidence the state relied on, or how the courts have ruled on his claims, so readers should consult court filings and official statements for the full picture.

The campaign is urging supporters to take two steps in his case, sending a letter to the governor and signing a petition. Whether such efforts affect a clemency decision is a matter for the governor, and we do not predict an outcome.

Ricardo Gonzalez, December 1

Florida plans to execute Ricardo Gonzalez on December 1 at 6 p.m. for the 1992 murder of Officer Steven Bauer in Miami-Dade County. The loss of a police officer is a profound one, and it is central to how supporters of capital punishment view the case. Gonzalez’s advocates focus on his resentencing. They say that four jurors voted to spare his life, and that the judge recognized his brain damage and remorse as reasons to weigh in his favor, but still imposed a death sentence after the jury voted 8 to 4. The campaign asks supporters to add their voices to the chorus of people who believe Gonzalez can be held responsible without another execution. That is the position of the advocates, and it stands alongside the view of those who believe the sentence is the appropriate response to the killing of an officer.

Willie Crain, Jr., December 10

The most recent warrant is for Willie Crain, Jr., who is 80 years old. Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a death warrant setting his execution for December 10, 2026, at 6 p.m. Crain was sentenced to death by a non-unanimous jury vote for the 1998 murder of Amanda Brown in Hillsborough County. The campaign has launched a petition on his behalf and says more action steps will follow. A jury that did not agree unanimously on a death sentence is a feature that advocates often highlight, and readers who want to understand how that applies to this case should review the court record and Florida law. The material we reviewed does not say how Brown was killed or how Crain’s appeals have been decided.

Competing Views on the Death Penalty

Capital punishment remains one of the most contested subjects in American public life, and these cases illustrate why. Opponents argue that the possibility of error, the role of non-unanimous juries, and questions about mental impairment and age should give officials pause, and they urge clemency or a halt to executions. Supporters argue that the penalty is a just and lawful response to the most serious crimes, that it honors the victims and their families, and that the courts have reviewed each case through multiple stages of appeal. Both perspectives are held sincerely, and families of victims and families of the condemned are among the people most affected. We encourage readers to consult primary sources, including court records and statements from the Florida governor’s office and the Department of Corrections, as these dates approach.