Florida Executes Man Convicted of Family Murders
On July 31, Edward Zakrzewski, 60, was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison for the brutal murders of his wife and their two young children in 1994. This execution marks the ninth in Florida this year, setting a record for the highest number of annual executions in the state since the death penalty was reinstated.
Zakrzewski’s life took a tragic turn during a difficult time in his marriage to Sylvia, who was 34 at the time. Court records reveal that he had expressed to a neighbor a dark sentiment—that he would rather kill his family than face a divorce.
The day the murders occurred, Zakrzewski learned that Sylvia wanted to end their marriage. He purchased a machete during his lunch break, returning home as if nothing was wrong. When his family arrived, the violence began. He attacked Sylvia first, knocking her unconscious and strangling her before moving on to their 7-year-old son, also named Edward, whom he killed with the machete. His 5-year-old daughter, Anna, was next, attacked as she tried to hide in the bathroom.
Following the murders, Zakrzewski fled to Orlando and then took a flight to Hawaii, where he lived under a new identity in a religious commune for four months. His capture came after a family watching “Unsolved Mysteries” recognized him and alerted the police.
Over the years, Zakrzewski made several attempts to appeal his conviction, but all were unsuccessful.
On the day of his execution, he had a last meal of fried pork chops, root beer, and ice cream. Reports indicate that he was compliant and only had one visitor during his final hours.
This year has seen Florida execute more individuals than it has since 2014, with Zakrzewski being the ninth person to face execution. The process used involved a combination of a sedative, a paralytic agent, and a drug that stops the heart.
