Man Executed in Florida for Double Murder

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant on Wednesday, April 23, 2026, for Richard Knight, 47, to be executed on May 21, 2026, for the 2000 murders of Odessia Stephens and her four-year-old daughter Hanessia Mullings in Broward County.

The warrant was signed one day after Florida carried out its fifth execution of the year, the lethal injection of Chadwick Willacy on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, for the 1990 murder of Marlys Sather in Palm Bay.

Details of the Crime

According to court records, Richard Knight became irate after Odessia Stephens asked him to move out of the apartment where she lived with his cousin Hans Mullings and her daughter. After going outside to walk, Knight returned, exchanged more words with Stephens, obtained a knife from the kitchen, and went to the master bedroom where he began stabbing Stephens until she stopped resisting.

He then turned to Hanessia Mullings, stabbing her until his knife broke and cutting his hand in the process. Stephens sustained 21 stab wounds, while Mullings was stabbed four times and had bruises on her neck consistent with strangulation.

Legal Proceedings and Prior Actions

Knight was convicted of first-degree murder in April 2006 and sentenced to death in March 2007 for the two murders. The Florida Supreme Court upheld the conviction, and sentence.

This warrant marks the eighth death warrant signed by Governor DeSantis in 2026.

Context of Recent Executions in Florida

Chadwick Willacy’s execution on April 21, 2026, was conducted via lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. ET. His last meal included chicken, tater tots, ice cream, and pie. Willacy maintained his innocence until the end, offering apologies to his family and encouragement to fellow inmates on death row.

Status and Next Steps

Richard Knight remains under sentence of death and is scheduled for execution on May 21, 2026, pending any legal challenges or stays that may be filed before that date.