A look at U.S. executions in 2025

Rising Execution Numbers in the U.S. This Year

As of now, 26 men have been executed by court order in the United States this year, and nine more are scheduled to be put to death across seven states during the remainder of 2025. This number surpasses the 25 executions recorded last year and in 2018, marking the highest total since 28 people were executed in 2015.

Recent Executions and Upcoming Dates

Michael B. Bell was executed on Tuesday in Florida. He was the eighth person executed in the state this year, with a ninth execution planned for later this month. Florida carried out six executions in 2023 but only one last year. Bell was convicted in 1995 for the murders of Jimmy West and Tamecka Smith, which occurred during an attempted revenge killing.

Edward J. Zakrzewski is set to be executed in Florida on July 31 for the 1994 murder of his wife and two children. He turned himself in after the case was featured on the TV show "Unsolved Mysteries."

Byron Black, 69, is scheduled to die by lethal injection on August 5. He was convicted in 1989 for the shooting deaths of his girlfriend, Angela Clay, and her two daughters. His legal team has requested that the Tennessee Department of Correction deactivate an implanted defibrillation device before his execution, potentially delaying the process. They also seek a ruling from the state Supreme Court regarding his competency to be executed.

Harold Nichols, 64, is scheduled for lethal injection on December 11. He was convicted in 1988 for the rape and murder of Karen Pulley.

David Lee Roberts, 59, is set to be executed using nitrogen gas on August 21. This would be the seventh nitrogen gas execution in the U.S., as Alabama introduced it as an alternative to lethal injection last year. The method involves administering nitrogen gas through a mask, causing unconsciousness and death due to oxygen deprivation.

Geoffrey T. West, 49, is scheduled for nitrogen gas execution on September 25 for the 1997 murder of convenience store clerk Margaret Parrish Berry.

Ralph Leroy Menzies, 67, is set to be executed by firing squad on September 5. If carried out, he would be the sixth prisoner in the U.S. to face this method since 1977. Menzies, who has dementia, has been on death row for 37 years for the abduction and murder of Maurine Hunsaker. A judge recently ruled that Menzies understands the reason for his execution, despite cognitive decline, and has scheduled a hearing for July 23 to reassess his competency.

Blaine Milam, 35, is scheduled for lethal injection on September 25. He was convicted of killing his girlfriend’s 13-month-old daughter during what they claimed was an “exorcism” in 2008.

In Indiana, Roy Lee Ward is tentatively scheduled for October 10 for the 2001 rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl. However, the date could change due to potential federal litigation or requests for commutation.

Lance C. Shockley is set to be executed on October 14 for the 2005 murder of Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Dewayne Graham. Testimony indicated that Graham was killed because he was investigating Shockley for involuntary manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident.

Delays and Challenges in Execution Processes

Earlier this year, Republican Governor Mike DeWine postponed five executions originally scheduled for 2025, pushing them to 2028. The delay was attributed to the state's inability to secure lethal injection drugs due to pharmaceutical suppliers’ reluctance. DeWine has stated that no further executions are expected during his term, which ends in 2026.

Summary of Executions by State

Executions this year have taken place in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. The following states have scheduled executions for later this year: Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.

The rising number of executions highlights ongoing debates about the death penalty in the U.S. and raises questions about the methods used, the legal processes involved, and the ethical implications of capital punishment. As these cases unfold, they continue to draw public attention and scrutiny.