Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida has authorized his ninth execution order for 2026, targeting Andrew Richard Lukehart, age 53, who was convicted for the murder of five-month-old Gabrielle Hanshaw in Duval County back in February 1996, as reported by NBC Miami.
Hailing from Jacksonville, Lukehart is scheduled for lethal injection on June 2 at the Florida State Prison in Starke, with the execution window remaining open until noon on June 9.
Details of the 1996 Crime
Court documents reveal that the incident occurred on February 25, 1996, when Lukehart attempted to change Gabrielle's diaper, the daughter of his girlfriend, but the infant became restless.
During the trial, Lukehart admitted to violently and repeatedly pushing the baby's head and neck against the ground. After committing the heinous act, he disposed of the child’s body in a nearby pond, took his girlfriend's car, and fled the scene.
Approximately 30 minutes later, he called his girlfriend, claiming that a man driving a blue Chevy Blazer had kidnapped the baby. However, the vehicle was later found abandoned in Clay County, and Lukehart was discovered in the yard of a Florida State Police officer.
Initially, he stuck to his fabricated story of a kidnapping, but eventually, he confessed to the crime. The jury found him guilty on February 27, 1997, and a month later, recommended the death penalty by a vote of nine to three.
Legal Proceedings and Execution Orders
The Florida Supreme Court upheld both the conviction and the sentence in 2000, and the case has lingered in the judicial system for nearly three decades with all appeals exhausted.
DeSantis signed the order last Friday, just a day after the state executed James Hitchcock, 69, for the sexual assault and murder of his niece-in-law in 1976. This marked the sixth execution in Florida in 2026.
Lukehart's impending execution follows a period of increased execution activity in Florida under DeSantis' leadership. In 2025, Florida executed 19 individuals, setting a modern record since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, positioning the state as the leader in executions nationwide.
Before Lukehart's execution, Richard Knight, 47, is slated for execution on May 21 for the 2000 double murder of Odessia Stephens and her four-year-old daughter, Hanessia Mullings, in Broward County.
Controversy and Opposition
DeSantis has also been instrumental in changing the legal framework by removing the requirement for a unanimous jury recommendation for the death penalty, signing numerous execution orders since he took office.
In response to the increased pace of executions, opponents of the death penalty in Florida have intensified their efforts. The organization Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty announced a signature-gathering campaign last Friday to present global opposition to these executions to DeSantis.
Their executive director, Grace Hanna, expressed, "And while we mourn, the execution machinery grinds on. The cell that once held Hitchcock now houses a new man who has been told he has a month to live."
Frequently Asked Questions about Florida's Execution Orders
What crime was Andrew Richard Lukehart convicted of?
Andrew Richard Lukehart was convicted of the murder of five-month-old Gabrielle Hanshaw in Duval County, Florida, in February 1996.
When is Andrew Richard Lukehart's execution scheduled?
Lukehart's execution is scheduled for June 2, 2026, and the execution window extends until noon on June 9, 2026.
How has Governor DeSantis impacted Florida's death penalty process?
Governor Ron DeSantis has accelerated the pace of executions in Florida and has pushed for legal reforms, such as removing the requirement for a unanimous jury recommendation for the death penalty.