ORLANDO, Fla. – A convicted murderer is set to be executed Tuesday in the slaying of an Orlando woman in 1994.
Thomas Gudinas was convicted of murdering and raping 27-year-old Michelle McGrath after she left a nightclub.
Gudinas’ attorneys are asking for a stay on the execution, saying the state needs to have a criteria for who is put to death.
[Victim’s family reacts after Florida Gov. DeSantis signs death warrant]
In a petition to the state, Gudinas’ lawyer said, “Florida’s governor has no criteria, procedure or guidelines in place for selecting who lives or dies.”
The attorney says the state should turn over records that would explain Gov. Ron DeSantis’ choice to sign the death warrant.
McGrath’s sister told News 6 last month about the execution, which she believes will bring her some closure.
“I would say over the last 30 years, occasionally I do look at the status of if he’s still where I thought he was, and I’m not going to do that anymore. And that is actually kind of a relief,” she said.
The state attorney general’s office responded to Gudinas’ attorney, urging the Florida Supreme Court to reject the request to stay the execution.
News 6 will be there to cover the execution. Community Correspondent Mike Valente will be in Starke, Florida, at the Florida State Prison.