The justice system finally delivered what one family waited 35 years to see.
Their patience paid off in ways that surprised even them.
And Ron DeSantis just carried out one execution that had victims’ families saying two words.
Florida sets historic execution record under DeSantis
Florida made history Tuesday night when Victor Tony Jones became the 13th person executed in the state this year – shattering the previous record of eight executions set back in 2014.
The 64-year-old killer met his end by lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke at 6:13 p.m., extending Florida’s unprecedented pace under Governor Ron DeSantis.
Jones had spent over three decades on death row for the brutal 1990 murders of Jacob and Matilda Nestor, a married couple in their 60s who made the fatal mistake of trying to help him.
The Nestors owned a medical supply business in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood and gave Jones odd jobs out of the kindness of their hearts.
In December 1990, just days before Christmas, Jones repaid their generosity by stabbing Matilda in the neck and Jacob in the chest during a robbery attempt.
Despite suffering a mortal stab wound to his heart, Jacob Nestor managed to stumble to his office, grab a .22-caliber pistol, and fire five shots at his attacker – one striking Jones in the forehead.
Police discovered Jones injured at the scene, carrying the victims’ cash and personal items in his pockets.
Victims’ daughter witnesses 35 years of justice delivered
Irene Fisher, the Nestors’ only daughter, traveled from New York to witness Jones’ execution alongside her two adult daughters and three other family members.
The 76-year-old had been waiting for this moment since she was in her 40s.
"I’m 76 years old, and I didn’t think I’d be alive to see it," Fisher told reporters.
Her brother Michael never got the chance – he died of cancer at 76, with his death connected to his heroic actions during the September 11 attacks when he helped evacuate people from the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
At exactly 6 p.m., officials began the execution procedure.
When offered the chance for final words, Jones declined with a simple "No, sir."
The lethal drugs took effect quickly, causing Jones to breathe heavily before his movements gradually ceased.
Prison officials checked for signs of life, but Jones remained motionless as his complexion grew pale.
After witnessing the peaceful death of her parents’ killer, Fisher delivered a stunning observation about the contrast between how Jones died and how her parents were murdered.
Family finds unexpected peace in execution’s aftermath
"After seeing what I saw tonight, I wish my parents had that opportunity to die so gracefully, close your eyes and just go," Fisher said.
"They were violently killed. My father fought for 20 minutes with a stab wound in his heart, and my mother died instantly in the bathroom on a cold floor."
Fisher admitted to mixed emotions, having never watched anyone die before, but expressed relief that justice had finally been served.
The building where her parents’ medical supply store once operated now serves as a community center – a development Fisher believes her parents would have loved since they were always helping people in the neighborhood.
Before the execution, she had visited her parents’ graves in New York to tell them the news that their killer would finally face justice.
DeSantis leads nation in capital punishment
Florida now leads the nation in executions for 2025, having carried out more than double the number of the next closest states.
Texas, traditionally the leader in capital punishment, has only executed five people this year compared to Florida’s record-breaking 13.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court restored the death penalty in 1976, no state had executed more than eight people in a single year until DeSantis broke that barrier.
The governor shows no signs of slowing down, with two more executions scheduled for next month.
Samuel Lee Smithers, 72, is set to be executed on October 14 for killing two women whose bodies were found in a rural pond in 1996.
Norman Mearle Grim Jr., 65, faces execution on October 28 for raping and killing his neighbor near the Pensacola Bay Bridge in 1998.
Last-ditch appeals fall flat as justice prevails
Jones’ legal team had filed a desperate final appeal with the Florida Supreme Court earlier this month, claiming intellectual disability and alleged abuse he suffered as a teenager at a now-shuttered state reform school.
The court quickly dismissed these claims, noting that the disability issue had already been litigated and the abuse allegations were never presented during his original trial.
Hours before the execution, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a final appeal without comment – clearing the path for justice to finally be served.
Before the execution, Jones spent his final hours meeting with a spiritual counselor and consuming his chosen last meal of fried chicken, collard greens, and sweet tea.
Correctional staff reported that he remained cooperative throughout the day.
The execution brings the national total to 34 court-ordered executions so far this year, with at least eight more scheduled before 2025 ends.
For Irene Fisher and her family, the 35-year wait for justice has finally concluded with two simple words that capture their complex emotions: "graceful" death versus the violent murders that started this long journey toward accountability.
¹ David Fischer, "Record 13th Florida execution this year carried out on man convicted of killing a couple," Associated Press, September 30, 2025.
² Amanda Lee Myers, "Man who killed Florida inventor and his wife becomes record 13th inmate executed in state," USA TODAY, October 1, 2025.
³ Ibid.
⁴ Associated Press, "Florida executes man convicted of 1990 murder of married couple," Tampa Bay Times, September 30, 2025.
