DeSantis Signs Death Warrant for Inmate Featured in Netflix Series, Schedules Double Execution Day
Robertson admitted he killed his cellmate to get a death sentence, and the warrant sets his execution for Oct. 13, officials said.
- On Thursday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant for inmate James 'Chicken Head' Robertson, scheduling his execution for Oct. 13, 2026, at Florida State Prison in Raiford.
- Seeking to escape long-term maximum-security conditions, Robertson strangled his cellmate, Frank Hart, with a handmade garrote in 2008, admitting he committed the murder specifically to secure a death sentence.
- Following a 2012 guilty plea and death sentence, Robertson appeared in the 2018 Netflix series 'I Am A Killer' to discuss his desire for execution and fought legal efforts to challenge his conviction.
- This marks DeSantis's 19th death warrant of 2026, matching last year's record, and is the second time this year the state scheduled two executions for the same day, with William Lee Thompson also slated for Oct. 13.
- Advocacy group Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty described the scheduling as an 'unprecedented escalation' of Florida's death penalty use, as the state has already executed 16 inmates this year.
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11 Articles
DeSantis signs death warrant for inmate featured in Netflix series, schedules double execution day
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a record-tying 19th death warrant Thursday, setting an Oct. 13 execution date for an inmate who murdered his cellmate to escape long-term maximum-security conditions.
Gov. DeSantis signed record-tying 19th death warrant for Florida man who killed his cellmate so he could be executed
The warrant signed by DeSantis is for James "Chicken Head" Robertson, 63, who is set to be the first of two executions to occur by lethal injection at Florida State Prison in Stark on Oct. 13.
DeSantis signs execution warrant for inmate who killed cellmate in CCI
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis signed his record tying 19th death warrant of the year Thursday, this one for an inmate who killed his cellmate as an escape to better jailhouse conditions afforded on death row.
Sun-Sentinel
Orlando SentinelDeSantis signs execution warrant for inmate who wanted to be on Death Row
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed his record-tying 19th death warrant of the year, this one for an inmate who killed his cellmate as an escape to better jailhouse conditions given to Death Row prisoners.
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