Scheduled Execution for Famed Florida Murderer Raises Legal Questions
Thomas Lee Gudinas, 51, faces lethal injection as appeals fail to halt the death penalty
Florida State Prison, Starke, FL — A man condemned for the brutal rape and murder of 26-year-old Michelle McGrath in central Florida is poised to be executed on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, unless a last-minute reprieve is granted. Thomas Lee Gudinas, now 51, was sentenced to death in 1995 for the heinous crime that has haunted the community for decades.
The Crime That Shocked a Community
McGrath was last seen alive leaving Barbarella’s, a local bar, in the early hours of May 24, 1994. Several hours later, her body was discovered in an alley near a school, exhibiting severe trauma and signs of sexual assault. Witnesses the night of McGrath’s disappearance recounted seeing Gudinas in the vicinity; his friends testified that they had left the bar without him.
Notably, a school employee who stumbled upon McGrath’s lifeless body identified Gudinas as the individual fleeing the scene shortly before the discovery. Another woman reported being threatened by him the previous night, solidifying the case against him.
Legal Battle and Death Row Statistics
The execution of Gudinas would mark the seventh lethal injection carried out in Florida in 2025, following six executions earlier in the year. Florida leads the nation in executions for this period, with Texas and South Carolina trailing behind, each having four.
Attorneys representing Gudinas have been making efforts to appeal his death sentence, citing concerns about his mental health. They argue that his lifelong mental illnesses should exempt him from execution. However, the Florida Supreme Court recently dismissed these appeals, stating that the protections against execution for intellectual disabilities do not extend to other mental health issues. A federal appeal questions the constitutionality of the Florida governor’s broad powers in issuing death warrants, asserting that it leads to an arbitrary application of justice.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
As Gudinas approaches his execution date, both state and federal courts will scrutinize the legal arguments surrounding his mental health claims and the processes governing executions in Florida. The U.S. Supreme Court has yet to issue a decision on the ongoing legal challenges.
As the date looms closer, the state’s protocol for carrying out the death penalty remains under the watchful eye of activists, legal experts, and the community, which continues to reckon with the ramifications of this tragic case.
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Bio: Marcus is a community-based journalist passionate about reporting impactful stories that matter most to readers.