Florida Prepares to Execute Thomas Lee Gudinas for 1994 Rape and Murder of Michelle McGrath

 Florida Prepares to Execute Thomas Lee Gudinas for 1994 Rape and Murder of Michelle McGrath

STARKE, Fla. — June 24, 2025 — Florida is set to carry out the execution of Thomas Lee Gudinas, age 51, at Florida State Prison in Starke today, following his conviction for the 1994 rape and murder of Michelle McGrath. Barring any last-minute legal interventions, Gudinas will be executed by lethal injection this evening.

A Brutal Crime and Conviction

McGrath, 27, was last seen leaving Barbarella’s, a popular Orlando nightclub, during the early hours of May 24, 1994. Her body was later discovered in an alley near a local school, bearing signs of severe trauma and sexual assault. Gudinas was apprehended and convicted in 1995 after eyewitnesses placed him near the crime scene and another woman came forward with an account of being threatened by him on the same night.

One of Florida’s Most Active Years for Executions

Gudinas is slated to become the seventh person executed in Florida this year, marking a resurgence in capital punishment activity within the state. By comparison, Florida executed six individuals in 2023, and only one the year before. If carried out, Gudinas’s execution would bring the U.S. total for 2025 to 23, the highest number in a single year since 2015. Texas and South Carolina follow Florida closely, each with four executions this year.

Appeals and Controversy

In his final appeal, Gudinas’s legal team cited long-term mental illness as a reason to commute his sentence. However, the Florida Supreme Court rejected the request, affirming that state law does not extend constitutional protection from execution to individuals with mental illness unless they are legally deemed intellectually disabled.

A separate federal lawsuit is also challenging Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s authority to unilaterally sign death warrants, calling the practice inconsistent and arbitrary.

Broader Implications

Florida’s reintroduction of more frequent executions has reignited national debate over the death penalty, particularly in cases involving mental health concerns. Critics argue that the system remains flawed and fails to account for evolving understandings of psychological illness.

What Lies Ahead

• Execution is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. EDT today.
• Legal teams continue to monitor for any potential stays or emergency rulings.
• If the sentence proceeds as planned, Gudinas will be the latest in a growing list of death row inmates executed this year amid a national shift in capital punishment trends.

As the state prepares to carry out this execution, the painful legacy of Michelle McGrath’s murder continues to be felt by her loved ones and the wider Florida community. The case also serves as a stark reminder of the complex and controversial landscape surrounding the death penalty in America.