Three men will be executed on the same day as death penalties rise in US

August 13, 2026

The United States is experiencing a dramatic surge in executions, with three men scheduled to die on the same day in different states—a scenario not seen in 16 years. Executions increased more than fourfold between 2021 and 2025, driven primarily by President Trump's reinstatement of federal death penalty protocols and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's aggressive pro-execution policies. Florida alone accounted for approximately 40% of all 2025 executions after DeSantis championed laws that lowered jury thresholds and expanded capital offenses.

Who is affected

Anthony Darrell Hines (66, Tennessee), Jeremy Williams (41, Alabama), and Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez (71, Oklahoma) - scheduled for execution
Death row inmates across 11 states that carried out executions in 2025
Inmates in Florida, which conducted about 40% of 2025 executions
Law enforcement officers' families (referenced in Trump's executive order)
Victims of sexual battery on minors under 12 in Florida (now capital-eligible crimes)

What action is being taken

Three executions are scheduled to occur on Thursday across Tennessee, Alabama, and Oklahoma
The Department of Justice is streamlining internal processes to expedite death penalty cases
States are carrying out executions under reinstated protocols that include firing squad and lethal injection methods
Florida is executing inmates under Governor DeSantis's signed death warrants

Why it matters

This represents a significant reversal in death penalty trends despite growing skepticism from juries and the American public. The U.S. stands apart from most Western nations that have abolished capital punishment, with the dramatic increase driven by political leadership rather than public demand. Florida's outsized role—conducting 40% of executions—demonstrates how individual state governors can dramatically influence national execution rates through policy changes like reduced jury thresholds and expanded capital offenses, raising concerns about discrimination, botched executions, and costs.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC