Florida has scheduled Anthony Wainwright for execution on June 10, 2025 for the 1994 murder of Carmen Gayheart. The only problem is, while he was present to the crime, Wainwright is not the rapist or the killer that Florida alleges he is.

There is no reliable scientific or DNA evidence that Mr. Wainwright participated in a sexual assault of the victim; further there is no reliable scientific or DNA evidence that ties Mr. Wainwright intimately to the victim in this case.  The analysts, Pollock and DeGuglielmo specifically, inappropriately consulted with one another about their initial analyses, testified to matters that were not contained in their reports or notes, offered opinions that were not supported by statistics, and offered opinions that were not supported by reliable and verifiable testing.  The attorneys then confused statistics that applied to Mr. Hamilton and argued to the jury that the statistics applied to Mr. Wainwright when there was no support for such. (Source.)

Join the Virtual Sit In

Call Gov. DeSantis at 850-717-9210 with the following message:

"Hi. My name is [your name]. I am calling to encourage Gov. DeSantis to halt all plans to execute Anthony Wainwright on June 10, 2025. Anthony's case is marked by serious failures of fairness, including failures by his attorneys, which deserve meaningful review. We believe in accountability, but the State of Florida can hold Anthony accountable, ensure public safety, AND recognize the human capacity to change without killing him. Thank you."

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND

Anthony Wainwright’s case is marked by serious failures of fairness and justice. During his sentencing trial, his lawyer called just a single witness, told his jury virtually nothing about Anthony, and offered them very little reason to spare his life. The State was late to turn over key evidence, which led his lawyer to misstate facts in his opening statement, making him look less than credible in the eyes of the jury. Finally, Anthony has never had a federal court review whether his death sentence was appropriate because his attorney missed the filing deadline by 6 days after repeatedly assuring Anthony the appeal would be filed on time.

We believe in accountability, but true accountability does not require execution. A sentence of life without the possibility of parole protects society while also recognizing the human capacity for redemption and the role of childhood trauma in shaping adult behavior.

Florida does not need the death penalty to be safe. This execution will not make us safer, it will simply add another act of violence to an already tragic story. Justice does not require death. Florida's continued use of executions marks the state as an outlier in its use of the death penalty. The majority of other states are on a downward trend of executions.

Please sign the petition asking Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida State Board of Executive Clemency to do everything within their power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case.

Death Penalty Action is hosting this petition in collaboration with Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty and the Execution Intervention Project.