A criminal who kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and killed a six-year-old girl has been executed while on death row.
Bryan Frederick Jennings was found guilty over 45 years ago for the premeditated murder, abduction, break-in, and sexual assault of Rebecca Kunash. Jennings forcibly took the girl, drove her to a canal, and sexually assaulted her.
Jennings, who was 20 at the time, then violently threw her to the ground, causing a severe skull fracture, as indicated in court documents. The girl was subsequently drowned in the canal, where her body was discovered later that same day.
However, Jennings was put to death last night on death row at the correctional facility near Starke, Florida, where he had been imprisoned for decades following the crime. The now 66-year-old offender received a lethal injection involving three drugs, marking the 16th execution in Florida this year.
A former US Marine, Jennings opted not to make a final statement before his execution. Department of Corrections spokesperson Jordan Kirkland confirmed that the execution proceeded smoothly without any issues.
Jennings was apprehended shortly after the girl’s assault due to an unrelated traffic violation, and he matched the description of an individual spotted near the Kunash residence around the time of the girl’s disappearance. Evidence from the crime scene, including shoeprints, fingerprints on the windowsill, and wet clothes and hair belonging to Jennings, linked him to the crime.
He was twice convicted and sentenced to death for the 1979 Brevard County homicide, with both convictions overturned on appeal. In 1986, a third trial led to another guilty verdict and a reaffirmed death sentence. Jennings also received life sentences for kidnapping, sexual assault, and burglary.
Governor Ron DeSantis, who authorized the execution, has approved more executions this year than any Florida governor since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976. The prior state record of eight executions was set in 2014.
Two more Florida executions are scheduled for November 20 and December 9. Should they proceed as planned, the state will have carried out a total of 18 executions this year.
Gov DeSantis explained that the increased number of executions is aimed at providing closure and justice to the families of the victims. He emphasized the importance of delivering justice promptly, especially for crimes dating back to the 1980s.
