Pinellas Murder Case Ends With Execution

Despite years of appeals and several last minute pleas to the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court, Martin Grossman was executed at the Florida state prison in Starke on Tuesday. A court issued the death penalty to Grossman almost 25 years ago.

In his final statement, Grossman expressed remorse to the family of Peggy Park, the Florida wildlife officer he beat and shot to death in 1984. “I would like to extend my heartfelt remorse to the victim’s family,” Grossman said. “I fully regret everything that happened that night, everything that was done, whether I remember everything or not. I accept responsibility.”

He then said a Jewish prayer before the execution commenced.

Several of Park’s family members, including her mother, witnessed the execution through a window.

Grossman was sentenced to death for murdering Park on Dec. 13, 1984, as she patrolled a wooded area of Pinellas County now known as the Brooker Creek Preserve.

Several Jewish leaders sought relief for Grossman. Even the Vatican asked Florida Gov. Charlie Crist to spare Grossman’s life. Crist signed Grossman’s death warrant last month. Since that time, his office has reportedly received almost 50,000 letters, telephone calls or e-mails relating to Grossman’s execution.

Grossman is the 69th person executed in Florida since the death penalty was reinstated in 1979, and the 25th by lethal injection. He was the fifth inmate executed in the three years of Crist’s administration.

See Also:

• FL Supreme Court Will Not Set Aside Pinellas Death Sentence