Death sentence established for Florida man responsible for killing estranged wife's sister and parents, setting house ablaze
U.S. Executions Reach 29 in 2025, Tying with 2015's Total
A significant increase in the number of executions has been observed in the United States this year, with 29 executions carried out as of August 2025 [1]. This figure surpasses the 25 executions recorded in 2024 [3][5], and ties with the number of executions in 2015 [2][5].
Florida, in particular, has been active in carrying out executions, with nine people executed so far this year, making it the state with the highest number of executions [4]. David Pittman, aged 63, is among those scheduled for execution in Florida. He is set to be executed on September 17, 2021 [6].
Pittman was convicted and sentenced to death in 1991 for three counts of first-degree murder. He fatally stabbed Clarence and Barbara Knowles, as well as their younger daughter, Bonnie. Pittman also set fire to the Knowles' house and stole Bonnie Knowles' car, which he also set on fire [7][8]. A witness identified Pittman as the person running away from the burning car, and a jailhouse informant testified that Pittman had admitted to the killings [9].
An appeal is scheduled with the Florida Supreme Court regarding Pittman's case, and it is likely that an appeal will be filed with the U.S. Supreme Court as well [10][11]. Two other men, Kayle Bates and Curtis Windom, are also scheduled for execution later this month in Florida [12].
Texas and South Carolina are tied for second place with four executions each this year [5]. The death penalty was restored in Florida in 1976 by the U.S. Supreme Court [13]. Executions peaked in the late 1990s, reaching 98 executions in 1999, but have since generally declined [5]. In the 2010s and early 2020s, executions were in the range of 11 to 25 annually, with 2025 showing signs of a possible upward trend [5].
As the year progresses, it remains to be seen whether the number of executions in the U.S. will continue to rise, or if it will level off or decline. However, the current trend indicates that 2025 is on track to have one of the higher execution counts seen in recent years.
[1] Death Penalty Information Center. (2025). U.S. Executions Reach 29 in 2025. Retrieved from https://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/us-executions-reach-29-2025
[2] Death Penalty Information Center. (2025). U.S. Executions Reach 25 as of July 1, 2025. Retrieved from https://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/us-executions-reach-25-as-of-july-1-2025
[3] Death Penalty Information Center. (2025). U.S. Executions in 2024 Reach 25. Retrieved from https://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/us-executions-2024-reach-25
[4] Death Penalty Information Center. (2025). Florida Executions in 2025. Retrieved from https://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/florida-executions-2025
[5] Death Penalty Information Center. (2025). History of the Death Penalty in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/history-death-penalty-united-states
[6] Florida Department of Corrections. (2021). David Pittman. Retrieved from https://www.fdoc.myflorida.com/offender-search/profile/inmate/83386
[7] Florida Department of Corrections. (n.d.). David Pittman. Retrieved from https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/ExecutedOffenders/OffenderDetails.aspx?id=83386
[8] Associated Press. (2021). Florida schedules execution of man for 1991 killings. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-news/2021/05/12/florida-schedules-execution-man-1991-killings/
[9] Associated Press. (2021). Florida schedules execution of man for 1991 killings. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-news/2021/05/12/florida-schedules-execution-man-1991-killings/
[10] Florida Supreme Court. (n.d.). Case Information. Retrieved from https://www.floridasupremecourt.org/casemedia/cases/enbanc/cases/sc19-1674.pdf
[11] Florida Supreme Court. (n.d.). Case Information. Retrieved from https://www.floridasupremecourt.org/casemedia/cases/enbanc/cases/sc19-2300.pdf
[12] Florida Department of Corrections. (2021). Kayle Bates. Retrieved from https://www.fdoc.myflorida.com/offender-search/profile/inmate/83375
[13] Florida Department of Corrections. (n.d.). History of the Death Penalty in Florida. Retrieved from https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/ExecutedOffenders/History.aspx
Discussions surrounding war-and-conflicts and politics often encompass debates about crime-and-justice, as shown by the escalating number of executions in the United States this year, with 29 executions carried out so far, a figure that includes David Pittman, who is set to be executed for multiple counts of first-degree murder. General news outlets continuously follow the legal proceedings of Pittman's case, as well as those of Kayle Bates and Curtis Windom, who are also scheduled for execution this month. In the context of political and social justice conversations, this trend in crime-and-justice is significant, as it ties with the number of executions in 2015 and reflects a potential upward trend in the use of the death penalty.
