ORLANDO, Fla. – Nearly 30 years after the brutal killing of a young woman in downtown Orlando, the man convicted of her murder is now set to be executed.
On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant for 51-year-old Thomas Gudinas, who was convicted in 1995 for the rape and murder of 27-year-old Michelle McGrath.
McGrath was last seen alive on May 24, 1994, enjoying a night out with friends at Barbarella’s, a now-closed downtown Orlando nightclub.
Hours later, her body was discovered in a nearby alley. Investigators said she had been sexually assaulted and murdered.
Speaking from her home in Northern California, McGrath’s sister, Amy Liou, told News 6 that the family is processing a flood of emotions following the governor’s decision.
“It was kind of a bit of a shock,” Liou said. “A lot of emotions came flooding forward.”
Liou said the family has lived for decades knowing Gudinas had been sentenced to death, but the lengthy wait for justice has made the journey difficult.
“You live your life and, first and foremost, we are dealing with our own grief about the loss of our sister,” she said.
McGrath, remembered as the 1983 homecoming queen at Oak Ridge High School, was known for her vibrant spirit.
“She lit up a room,” Liou said. “She had this beautiful smile and a laugh that everyone loved to hear.”
The murder shocked the Orlando community at the time, with many describing it as one of the most horrific crimes the city had seen in years.
“Orlando at the time had not had any serious crime like this in my lifetime that I recall,” Liou said.
Now, with an execution date set for June 24, Liou said her family is a step closer to closure.
“Occasionally, I would check to see if he was still where I thought he was,” she said. “And I’m not going to have to do that anymore. That is actually kind of a relief.”