Murderer who left a toddler coated in her mom’s blood put to dying virtually three a long time later

James Dennis Ford, 64, savagely murdered a husband and wife and left their toddler covered in her mother’s blood was put to death today in Florida, in the state’s first execution of 2025

A death row inmate who savagely murdered a husband and wife and left their toddler covered in her mother’s blood was executed by lethal injection today.

James Dennis Ford, 64, was put to death at Florida State Prison at 6:19pm on February 13 for the 1997 murders.

Ford lured Gregory Malnory, 25, and Kimberly Malnory, 26, on a fishing trip before he savagely murdered them while their 22-month-old daughter watched. He then left the baby covered in her mother’s blood in the family’s pickup truck, where she survived for 18 hours until the crime scene was discovered by workers.

For his last meal, the killer tucked into steak, macaroni and cheese, fried okra, sweet potato, pumpkin pie and sweet tea.

Ford shot Gregory in the head, beat him with an axe-like blunt instrument and finally slit his throat. Kimberly was beaten, raped and then shot with a rifle.

Ford initially denied the crime, but prosecutors said there was “overwhelming proof that Ford was responsible for the murders and the rape.” The jury voted 11-1 to recommend the death penalty, and the judge agreed.

The killer’s lawyers have filed numerous appeals, but none were successful and his death warrant was signed by Ron DeSantis in January.

Maranda Malnory, recently told Fort Myers television station WBBH that she had no recollection of what had happened and only remembers her parents through photos and the memories of others. “I told one of my grandmas the other day you grieve the people you knew,” she said. “But I grieve what could have been.”

It’s not clear from court records why these killings happened. Part of Ford’s defence was that he suffered from abuse as a child and became an alcoholic like his father, drinking about a case of beer a day along with liquor. He also suffered from untreated diabetes, sometimes leading to blackouts and erratic behaviour.

The Death Penalty Information Center said Florida uses a three-drug cocktail for its lethal injection: a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart.

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