Florida Executes Michael Tanzi After 25 Years for Brutal Killing of Miami Herald Employee

Florida has carried out its third execution of the year, finally bringing closure to the family of Janet Acosta, a beloved Miami Herald production worker whose shocking 2000 murder haunted the state for nearly a quarter-century. The execution of Michael Tanzi at Florida State Prison on Tuesday underscores ongoing debates over capital punishment and the painful, protracted road to justice for victims’ families.

At 6:12 p.m., 48-year-old Tanzi was pronounced dead following a lethal injection of a sedative, paralytic, and heart-stopping drug, a cocktail Florida uses in its executions. Barely audible, Tanzi apologized to Acosta’s family and recited a Bible verse as the drugs took effect. Witnesses said his chest heaved briefly before he became still, ending a life that began with abuse and culminated in unthinkable violence.

Acosta’s family members, who endured years of court battles and appeals, expressed relief and a lightness of heart. Her sister Julie Andrew said simply: “It’s done. Justice for Janet happened.” Acosta’s niece called it the culmination of more than two decades fighting for closure.

The brutal nature of the crime shocked even seasoned law enforcement. On April 25, 2000, Acosta was enjoying her lunch break reading a book in her van when Tanzi approached under seemingly innocent pretenses. Suddenly, he punched her, threatened her with a razor blade, robbed her, and forced her on a terrifying journey. Along the way, he raped her, withdrew money with her ATM card, and purchased duct tape and razor blades at a hardware store before driving to Cudjoe Key.

In the isolated mangroves of the Keys, Tanzi coldly told Acosta he would kill her, gagged her with duct tape over her nose, mouth, and eyes to silence her cries, and strangled her. He then buried her body and went about shopping and spending her money, before police caught him driving her van days later in Key West. Tanzi confessed, even admitting, “If I had let her go, I was gonna get caught quicker… I didn’t want to get caught. I was having too much fun.”

Adding to the horror, investigators later learned Tanzi had also confessed to murdering a Massachusetts woman months earlier, part of what a detective called a “fledgling serial killer” pattern. Despite this, Tanzi avoided extradition due to the Florida death sentence.

During the decades-long legal proceedings, Tanzi’s attorneys depicted a childhood filled with abuse, neglect, and trauma—including molestation and violent beatings by his father, who later died from cancer. They argued his developmental issues and poor health, including morbid obesity and sciatica, made execution cruel and unusual punishment. Yet, courts rejected these final appeals, ruling the issues were long known and not grounds for mercy.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Tanzi’s death warrant in March. The Supreme Court declined to intervene, clearing the way for the execution. Earlier that day, Tanzi shared a last meal of pork chop, bacon, ice cream, and a candy bar, receiving only his spiritual adviser as a final visitor.

The execution marks Florida’s third this year—following the executions of Edward James and James Dennis Ford—and the 11th nationwide in 2025. It also comes amid renewed scrutiny over execution methods. Nationally, South Carolina recently revived the firing squad, with more such executions slated this year.

Janet Acosta is remembered as a kind soul who loved travel, volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, and helped raise her sisters during a challenging childhood. Her family’s endurance over decades exemplifies both the tortuous legal process and the enduring quest for justice in America’s death penalty system.

As Florida and other states continue to schedule executions, the question remains whether capital punishment deters or prolongs suffering. For Acosta’s loved ones, however, this chapter is now finally closed. What do you think? Share your thoughts and join the conversation below.

• Florida execution
• Janet Acosta
• Michael Tanzi