'I really messed up': Florida executes death row inmate for first time in nearly four years

For the first time in nearly four years, Florida executed a man Thursday for a carjacking that led to the brutal murder of a woman more than three decades ago.

Donald Dillbeck, 59, was pronounced dead at Florida State Prison at 6:13 p.m. ET, the governor’s office said. Dillbeck, who died by lethal injection, was condemned in the fatal stabbing of Faye Lamb Vann, 44 , in a Tallahassee mall parking lot.

The U.S. Supreme Court had declined a request by Dillbeck's attorneys to stop his execution.

The death marked Florida's 100th execution since the death penalty was reinstated by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1976 and executions resumed in the state in 1979.

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Dillbeck killed Vann in carjacking

At the time of the murder, Dillbeck was a fugitive after escaping a work-release catering job in Gadsden County, where he was serving a life sentence for killing Lee County Deputy Dwight Lynn Hall , 31, in 1979. Dillbeck was 15 at the time.

Dillbeck fled to Florida, where the deputy found him in a Fort Myers Beach parking lot. While Hall was searching him, Dillbeck hit the deputy in the groin and ran. Hall tackled him and Dillbeck took Hall’s gun and shot him twice.

Dillbeck was 11 years into a life sentence for killing the deputy when he walked away from the work release assignment, according to court records. He then bought a paring knife and walked to Tallahassee.

In 1990, at the shopping mall where Vann was waiting for her family,  Dillbeck approached her car with the knife and demanded a ride, court records show.

Vann tried to drive off and fought back, but Dillbeck stabbed her more than 20 times and slit her throat, court records show. He crashed the car a short time later and was captured running from the scene.

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Last meal

On the day of his execution, Dillbeck  went through his normal routine, Department of Corrections spokeswoman Michelle Glady said Thursday .

He visited with his spiritual adviser, she said.

At 9:45 a.m., he had his last meal: fried shrimp, mushrooms, onion rings, butter pecan ice cream, pecan pie and a chocolate bar, the Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network reported.

Last words criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis

The curtain between the death chamber and the viewing room opened at 6 p.m. Thursday.

His last words: “I know I hurt people when I was young. I really messed up.” He also criticized Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, saying "he has done a lot worse. He's taken a lot from a lot of people. I speak for all men, women and children. He's put his foot on our necks."

The execution began at 6:02 p.m., and Dillbeck closed his eyes shortly thereafter. He was declared dead roughly 10 minutes later.

Family thanks governor

Outside the walls of the Raiford prison in north central Florida Thursday, about 60 attendees gathered for a vigil and to pray, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.

Inside the prisons' execution viewing room, Vann's family members were among those who witnessed the man's lethal injection. There, they looked on with stony expressions .

Vann’s children, Tony and Laura, released a statement after the execution: “11,932 days ago, Donald Dillbeck brutally killed our mother. We were robbed of years of memories with her, and it has been very painful ever since.”

They thanked DeSantis for carrying out the execution, saying it “has given us some closure.”

100th prisoner executed

Dillbeck we was the first prisoner executed in Florida since 2019 and the 100th prisoner executed since the death penalty was reinstated in Florida in the mid 1970s, according to the state's Department of Corrections.

The execution was Florida’s first in nearly four years and the third under DeSantis. By comparison, his immediate predecessor, current U.S. Republican Sen. Rick Scott, oversaw 28 executions.

Since the death penalty was reinstated, Florida has been one of the most active states in carrying out executions.

Democratic Gov. Bob Graham oversaw 16 executions between 1979 and 1987. Martinez oversaw nine in his one term in office, Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles oversaw 18, and 21 prisoners were executed under Republican Gov. Jeb Bush. Gov. Charlie Crist oversaw five executions in his single term in office.

Contributing: Kathryn Varn, Tallahassee Democrat; The Associated Press

Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund .

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'I really messed up': Florida executes death row inmate for first time in nearly four years