A man in Florida has been executed for the murder of a couple that happened during a home invasion many years ago.
Frank Athen Walls, who was 58 years old, was given a lethal injection on Thursday evening at Florida State Prison. This was the 19th time someone has been executed in Florida this year.
Walls was found guilty of killing Edward Alger and his girlfriend, Ann Peterson, and was sentenced to death back in 1988.
The execution took place at 6 p.m., and Walls was pronounced dead just 11 minutes later. A priest was present, sitting near Walls.
Before the execution, Walls said he was sorry for the pain he had caused the family of the victims.
The crime happened in 1987 when Walls broke into the couple’s home. He tied them up, and when Alger tried to escape, Walls killed him. He then attacked and killed Peterson.
Years later, new DNA evidence linked Walls to another murder from 1987. As part of a deal with prosecutors, Walls also admitted to killing two other women in the 1980s.
Walls is one of 47 prisoners in the U.S. who have been executed this year after being sentenced to death.
Florida has carried out more executions than any other state in the U.S. this year.
