U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Thursday denied the final appeal of Edward T. James, a 63-year-old Florida death row inmate convicted of the brutal 1993 rape and murder of 8-year-old Toni Neuner and the killing of her grandmother, 58-year-old Betty Dick. The decision cleared the way for James’ execution by lethal injection, scheduled for 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison in Bradford County, commonly known as Raiford Prison.
“The application for stay of execution of sentence of death presented to Justice Thomas and by him referred to the Court is denied,” the brief Supreme Court order stated. “The petition for a writ of certiorari is denied.” A writ of certiorari allows a higher court to review a lower court’s decision.
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James’ legal team had hoped to delay the execution pending the Supreme Court’s upcoming arguments in Rivers v. Guerrero, a case addressing procedures for inmates who file multiple habeas corpus petitions. His lawyers argued that the outcome of that case could have a “direct impact” on James’ appeal due to the “substantially similar issues presented.”
James would be the second person executed in Florida this year. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including murder, kidnapping, and child abuse, and was sentenced to death after an 11-1 jury vote. The horrifying crime occurred on the night of September 19, 1993, when Toni and her three siblings were staying at their grandmother’s house.
James, who rented a room in the same home, launched his attack during the night. According to court records, Toni’s 9-year-old sister was awakened by screams and witnessed James assaulting their grandmother. She heard James say to Betty: ‘If you’re not dead in the count of three, I’m going to stab some more,’ so she wasn’t, and he started some more,” the child later told police.
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Toni’s body was found nude in James’ room, partially hidden between a mattress and the wall, covered by a pillow. Authorities said her underwear had been stuffed into her mouth. A medical examiner confirmed she had been sexually assaulted and strangled with a ligature.
In a taped police interview weeks after the murders, James confessed to the crimes. “I was pissed off and fed up and frustrated, just mad,” he said, claiming he was high on crack cocaine and other drugs at the time. He recalled hearing the sound of Toni’s neck “popping and cracking and stuff.” With the Supreme Court denying his final appeal, James is set to be executed as scheduled.
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