Curtis Wilkie Beasley, 77, was executed in Florida on Tuesday for the 1995 murder of Carolyn Monfort, ending a case that had remained on death row for nearly three decades. But before his execution, Beasley was given one final choice: what he wanted for his last meal.
Beasley was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke after receiving a three-drug lethal injection. His execution made him the 29th person put to death in the United States this year and the 16th in Florida, which has carried out more than half of the nation’s executions so far in 2026.
The execution began shortly after 6 p.m. Beasley was secured to a gurney inside the death chamber, with an IV inserted into his arm. A spiritual adviser remained seated by him throughout the procedure.
Before the drugs were administered, a warden gave Beasley an opportunity to make a final statement.
“I want to apologize for all the mistakes I made,” he said.
The execution then proceeded. Beasley began breathing heavily as the drugs entered his system. His breathing later slowed and stopped. The warden checked his eyes and called his name, but Beasley did not respond, according to CBS News.
At 6:11 p.m., a medic entered the chamber. Beasley was declared dead shortly afterward.
Neither Beasley’s relatives nor Monfort’s family were publicly known to have made statements following the execution, and it was unclear whether any of the victim’s relatives were present to witness it.
Curtis Wilkie Beasley’s last meal before execution
The murder happened in Dundee, Florida, in August 1995. At the time, Beasley had been staying at Monfort’s home while working on nearby apartments owned by her son-in-law.
Monfort’s daughter became concerned after she could not reach her mother for two days. When she went to the house, she found Monfort’s body in the laundry room. Monfort had sustained several blunt-force injuries to her head, and investigators discovered the bloodied head of a hammer wrapped in a towel near the scene.
The investigation soon turned toward Beasley after a witness said they had seen him driving a vehicle that police determined belonged to Monfort.
Beasley later fled Florida, first heading to Miami before making his way to Alabama. Authorities eventually tracked him down. He was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery and grand theft auto in 1998 and sentenced to death.
A longstanding tradition for Florida death row inmates facing execution is the opportunity to request a last meal of their choosing, as long as it is locally sourced and costs no more than $40.
For Beasley, that final meal consisted of grilled cheese sandwiches and ice cream, Florida Department of Corrections spokesman Jordan Kirkland said during a news conference outside Florida State Prison, according to the Associated Press.
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