A man who was found guilty of the 1979 murder of a six-year-old girl who was taken from her bedroom was executed on Thursday evening, marking the 16th execution in Florida this year. Bryan Frederick Jennings, aged 66, was declared dead at 6:20 p.m. ET after receiving a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. Jennings was sentenced to death for the killing of Rebecca Kunash, who was sexually assaulted and drowned in a canal.
When asked if he had any final words, Jennings responded with a firm “No.” Following the execution, no family members of the victim spoke to the press, and a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections, Jordan Kirkland, confirmed that the procedure went smoothly without any issues.
Jennings’s execution brings the total number of court-ordered executions in the United States to 42 this year, the highest since 2012. The executions have mainly taken place in 11 states in the South or Midwest. President Donald Trump has expressed intentions to resume federal executions, although none have occurred in 2025.
Jennings spent a considerable amount of time on death row before his execution, similar to some of the lengthiest stays in the U.S. The average time spent on death row typically ranges between 20 and 24 years. Initially convicted in 1980, Jennings had his sentence overturned twice before receiving a final death sentence in 1986. In addition to the death penalty, he also received life sentences for other criminal charges.
Throughout the years, Jennings pursued various appeals in state and federal courts, most recently arguing a violation of his right to legal counsel after his attorney passed away in 2022. Reports from local media in Florida indicate that Jennings outlived two of the prosecutors involved in his case, Kunash’s father, and four state governors who held office after his initial trial.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has attributed the surge in executions to the need for closure for the families of the victims who have been awaiting justice for decades. The governor emphasized the importance of timely justice, stating that he would not proceed with executions if he believed an individual was innocent.
Two more executions are scheduled in Florida later this year. All executions in the state are carried out through lethal injection using specific drugs. Jennings, who was a Marine Corps member at the time of the crime, abducted the girl from her bedroom, leading to her tragic death in a canal.
Further Florida executions are planned for November and December, potentially increasing the total number of executions in the state this year. A veterans’ advocacy group has advocated for clemency for former service members on death row, highlighting that a significant percentage of executed or scheduled individuals have a military background.
