Florida executes murderer of ‘Christmas nut’ mum | US | News
Mark Allen Geralds, 58, was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. after receiving a three-drug lethal injection at Florida State Prison. (Image: Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
A Florida man convicted of fatally stabbing a woman during a home invasion nearly 40 years ago was executed Tuesday evening.
Mark Allen Geralds, 58, was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. after receiving a three-drug lethal injection at the Florida State Penitentiary for the February 1989 murder of Tressa Pettibone. The 18th execution was carried out in Florida this year, setting a new state record for the largest number of executions in a single year; Another execution is scheduled for next week.
When asked if he wanted to make a final statement, Geralds addressed someone by name, although his name was not clearly heard. “I’m sorry I missed you,” he said.
She later added: “I loved you every day.”
He took nearly a dozen deep breaths as the lethal drugs were administered. Then his body trembled and twitched, his mouth opening and closing.
Within three to four minutes, Geralds was motionless.
Following the execution, a victim advocate from the state attorney’s office issued a statement on behalf of the Pettibone family. He noted that the family “has endured so much, even though this long legal journey has seemed endless at times.”
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“When we wake up tomorrow, for the first time in nearly 37 years, we won’t have to worry about another appeal being filed or another change in the law that could potentially hinder the justice we’ve fought so hard for for so long,” the family said. he said. Florida Department of Corrections spokesman Jordan Kirkland announced that eight people associated with Pettibone were present at the prison for execution.
However, it remained unclear how many of them witnessed the incident themselves, and none chose to address the media directly.
Pettibone was brutally attacked in his home in Panama City on February 1, 1989. Tragically, her 8-year-old son returned from school that day to find his mother’s lifeless body, fatally stabbed, on the kitchen floor, according to court documents.
Geralds, a carpenter by trade, had done renovation work on Pettibone’s house about a year ago.
During a chilling encounter about a week before the murder, Geralds encountered Pettibone and her two children at a shopping mall. During their conversation, Pettibone mentioned that her husband was on a business trip.
Geralds later approached Pettibone’s son at the video arcade to inquire about the father’s return date and the boy and his sister’s daily school hours, records show.
Executions in Flordia announced (Image: Getty)
Investigations revealed that Geralds had pawned jewelery stained with traces of Pettibone’s blood. Additionally, the plastic ties used to bind Pettibone matched those found in Geralds’ vehicle, records state.
Geralds was convicted of murder and armed robbery, among other charges, and sentenced to death in 1990. The Florida Supreme Court later overturned the sentence but upheld the conviction, which led to Geralds being sentenced to death again in 1992.
After the death warrant was signed and the execution date was set last month, Geralds informed the judge that he did not intend to file another appeal. The judge also approved this decision.
In the statement, Pettibone’s family painted a picture of her as “a devoted wife, loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt and devoted friend.”
His family “was his world and everything he did revolved around them.”
They remembered her passion for the festive season and called her the “Christmas nut”, decorating the house with lights, numerous trees and “decorated Santas and reindeer” while baking biscuits, bread, cakes and pies. Stating that he enjoys preparing gifts, his family said that they continue to exhibit their handmade products every year.
The statement said Pettibone “was a wonderful person with a family and many friends who loved him very much.” “Today we crossed the finish line for him and we are closing this very painful chapter of our lives.”
Including Tuesday’s execution, 45 people have been executed by court order in the United States so far this year, with several more executions planned for the rest of the year.
Florida’s previous highest annual execution total since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976 was eight in 2014. Florida has carried out more executions this year than any other state.
Following the death warrants signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, another execution is planned to be carried out in the state next week. Frank Athen Walls, 58, is scheduled to be the 19th person executed in Florida this year, and his execution is scheduled for December 18.
He was convicted of fatally shooting a man and woman during a home invasion robbery and later confessed to three more murders.
Executions in Florida are carried out by lethal injection, which involves the use of a drug that sedates, paralyzes and causes cardiac arrest, according to the state Department of Corrections.
