Warning: This article contains discussion of rape which some readers may find distressing.
A man who murdered a young couple on a fishing trip almost three decades ago has been executed.
Death row inmate James Dennis Ford was executed by way of lethal injection on Thursday (February 13) for the killing of Gregory and Kimberly Malnory, but not before he issued a haunting six-word statement.
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On April 6, 1997, Ford invited his co-worker Gregory on a fishing trip to South Florida Sod Farm, in Punta Gorda - a city to the southwest of Florida, with the 25-year-old bringing his 26-year-old wife Kimberley and their 22-month baby Maranda along with them.
When they arrived at the farm they were met with a gun-wielding Ford, who shot Gregory in the head with a rifle before hitting him over the head with what was presumed to be a blunt weapon, and then slit his throat.
Kimberly was injured by Ford during the ordeal but managed to escape with her baby in their truck but was tragically tracked down by Ford who raped her, beat her before executing her in front of her daughter.
Fortunately, their toddler was unharmed by Ford, although she had her mom's blood on her when she was found dehydrated with insect bites on her more than 18 hours later, still inside the truck.
Now, after serving 26 years on death row 64-year-old Ford was pronounced dead at 6.19pm ET, at the Florida State Prison in Raiford.
In his final written statement, prison staff told WWSB that he wrote: "Hugs Prayers Love!!! God Bless everyone!!!!"
For his last meal he requested steak, fried okra, macaroni and cheese, and sweet potato, with a dessert of pumpkin pie, and sweet tea.
Speaking to reporters at the execution, Gregory's mom Connie Ankney said: "This is the day for final justice for Kim and Greg. I hope he burns in hell."
Meanwhile, the Malnory's surviving daughter Maranda also spoke out following the execution of her parent's murderer.
“I told one of my grandmas the other day you grieve the people you knew,” she told Gulf Coast News. "But I grieve what could have been.
"Technically, my worst enemy is the person who did this. But I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.”
Maranda was 13 years old when she was finally told why her parents weren't with her anymore, and exactly how they died.
Taking to Facebook, she added: "I love you forever mommy and daddy!"
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this article, you can contact The National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800.656.HOPE (4673), available 24/7. Or you can chat online via online.rainn.org
Joe Yates