Florida Man Set to Be Executed for Kidnapping and Murdering Woman

In a somber development from Florida, Michael Duane Zack III is scheduled to be executed on October 3 for the brutal crimes of kidnapping, robbery, and murder committed in 1996. The Florida Supreme Court has upheld his death sentence, setting the stage for what will be the state's seventh execution this year if carried out as planned.

Zack's criminal spree began after he was released from jail and involved the murders of two women, Laura Rosillo and Ravonne Smith. Rosillo was killed in her home in Panama City, while Smith was kidnapped from a bar in Okaloosa County, taken to a secluded beach, and killed there. Zack's defense team has argued that his actions were influenced by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, a condition that affects brain development and could impact his culpability.

The case has reignited debates over the death penalty, with Zack's lawyers seeking clemency from Governor Ron DeSantis, citing Zack's condition and the broader implications of executing individuals with such disorders. The U.S. Supreme Court has also been approached to review the case, but no stay of execution has been granted yet.

As Florida prepares for this execution, the case serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities surrounding capital punishment, the impact of mental health on criminal behavior, and the ongoing national discourse on justice and rehabilitation.

• Florida
• Laura Rosillo
• Michael Duane Zack III
• Ravonne Smith

Detailed

Florida man is set to be executed for kidnapping and murdering a woman

4 weeks ago

- abcnews