NewsWUSF — Tampa Bay NPR (Local & State)November 6, 2026Hillsborough County
Florida Executes Jesse Guardado for 2004 Walton County Murder
Photo: WUSF — Tampa Bay NPR (Local & State)
Jesse Guardado, convicted of murdering 75-year-old Jackie Malone in 2004, was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison on Thursday. His death marked the 19th execution carried out by the state this year, matching the total for 2025. Courts denied late stays of execution before the procedure proceeded.
Read the full story at WUSF — Tampa Bay NPR (Local & State)Why It Matters
The execution brings Florida's total number of prisoners put to death this year to 19, matching the prior year's peak, while additional execution warrants signed by the governor set up potential new multi-decade highs for state executions.
Key Facts
- Jesse Guardado was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison at 6:13 p.m. on Thursday.
- Guardado was 64 years old at the time of his execution.
- He was the 19th inmate put to death by Florida this year, matching the 2025 total which was the highest since 1976.
- Guardado was convicted of murdering 75-year-old Jackie Malone on Sept. 13, 2004, in Walton County.
- Both the U.S. Supreme Court and the Florida Supreme Court denied Guardado's requests for a stay of execution.
- Guardado's legal team filed challenges against Florida's clemency process and lethal injection protocol.
- Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed two additional warrants for upcoming executions.
- At the time of the 2004 murder, Guardado was on conditional release from prison following previous sentences out of Orange and Seminole counties.
Who's Mentioned
PersonRon DeSantis“Governor who signed warrants and commented on the death penalty”PersonSteven Bauer“Killed North Miami Beach police officer”OrganizationAssociated Press“Reported details of the execution room”PersonJackie Malone“75-year-old victim killed in 2004”OrganizationU.S. Supreme Court“Denied Guardado's request for a stay”PersonThomas Mitchell Overton“Inmate with a signed execution warrant”PersonRick Scott“U.S. Senator and former governor”PersonJesse Guardado“Inmate executed for a 2004 murder”PersonPatrick Malone“Victim's son”PersonRicardo Gonzalez“Inmate with a signed execution warrant”OrganizationFlorida State Prison“Location where the execution took place”OrganizationFlorida Supreme Court“Declined Guardado's request for a stay”OrganizationDepartment of Corrections“Announced the time of death”