Florida Carries Out Death Sentence for Inmate Who Murdered Cellmate to Avoid Life in Prison

Clear Facts

• James Robertson, 63, was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison on Tuesday after pleading guilty to strangling his cellmate Frank Hart in 2008 to obtain the death penalty.
• Robertson declined a final statement, responding “Nah, I’m straight,” and was pronounced dead approximately 10 minutes after the three-drug injection was administered.
• Florida continues to uphold the death penalty under Governor Ron DeSantis, with the state carrying out more than half of the 31 executions nationwide so far this year.

James Robertson received the ultimate punishment for a crime he openly committed to avoid serving the rest of his life behind bars.

Robertson strangled his cellmate Frank Hart while Hart slept in 2008, just eight days before Hart was scheduled for release after a sexual battery conviction. Hart’s daughter Rebecca Hart spoke outside the prison, saying, “When someone you love is taken from you in such a violent way, the world keeps moving, even when a part of yours feels like it has stopped.”

“Other people go on with their lives, but you carry your loss into every tomorrow.”

Robertson had been imprisoned since age 17 in 1980 for burglary and assault, with additional convictions extending his sentence. He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and waived all appeals, telling investigators he killed Hart specifically to receive the death penalty rather than remain incarcerated.

The execution proceeded smoothly under Florida’s established protocol of administering a sedative, paralytic, and heart-stopping drug. Jordan Kirkland, a state Department of Corrections spokesperson, stated ahead of the execution, “Florida has a sound lethal injection process and protocol.”

“Florida would make sure its process was humane and dignified.”

Governor Ron DeSantis withdrew a death warrant last week for another inmate, William Lee Thompson, 74, pending psychiatric evaluation. This marks the first time DeSantis has withdrawn such a warrant, though Thompson remains on death row.

Florida has accelerated executions under DeSantis, with the governor overseeing a record 19 executions in 2025. The state has carried out more than half of the nation’s 31 executions so far this year, with two more scheduled for October and November.

Robertson was the state’s 17th execution of 2026. William Reaves is scheduled for execution on October 20 for the 1986 fatal shooting of a deputy, and Jesse Guardado faces execution on November 5 for a 2004 murder committed during a robbery.

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.