Death row inmates’ final chilling message before being executed

Thomas Lee Gudinas, a death row inmate who was convicted of a heinous crime that horrified Orlando in the 1990s, was executed on Tuesday evening (June 24) at Florida State Prison. He was 51 years old.

Gudinas received a death sentence in 1995 for the rape and murder of 27-year-old Michelle McGrath, a crime that occurred over three decades ago but has left a profound impact on McGrath’s family and the broader community.

McGrath was last seen in the early hours of May 24, 1994, following a night out with a friend at Barbarella’s, a nightclub located in downtown Orlando. Gudinas had also been present at the same establishment earlier that evening with a group of acquaintances.

Just hours later, McGrath’s body was found by a school employee in a nearby alley, as reported by the Associated Press. The employee later recounted seeing a man, who was later identified as Gudinas, fleeing the scene moments before the tragic discovery.

An autopsy indicated that McGrath had been sexually assaulted and had sustained multiple injuries. Authorities suspect she was attacked while walking to her vehicle after leaving the bar.

Gudinas was apprehended shortly thereafter and found guilty of first-degree murder and sexual battery. He has remained on Florida’s death row since that time.

His execution was performed through lethal injection. Witnesses noted that as the drugs were administered, Gudinas’ eyes rolled back, and he displayed several physical reactions, including chest convulsions, before becoming motionless. He was declared dead at 6:13 p.m. local time.

According to The Independent, Gudinas’ final words were not audible to those present, but a spokesperson for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Bryan Griffin, stated that the inmate expressed remorse and mentioned Jesus in his last moments. Gudinas chose not to meet with a spiritual advisor prior to his execution. Officials confirmed that his only visitor during his final hours was his mother.

His final meal included pizza, French fries, and soda.

It is uncertain whether McGrath’s family was present during the execution. When Gudinas was sentenced in 1995, McGrath’s father, Douglas McGrath, conveyed profound sorrow over the loss of his daughter. “It appears to be a tragic squandering of both his life and my daughter’s life,” he remarked. “We are deprived of my daughter… eternally.”

Gudinas became the seventh individual executed in Florida in 2025, positioning the state as the most active in executing capital punishment this year, as reported by Metro. In total, there have been 24 executions across the United States to date.

After the execution, Ted Veerman, a spokesman for the Florida Department of Corrections, recognized the accelerated rate of executions in the state. “Our staff are performing exceptionally well in managing the frequency of these executions,” he stated. “And we are proceeding with these in a professional manner.”