Stop the Execution of Louis Gaskin in Florida

Florida Board of Executive Clemency & Governor Ron DeSantis

Louis Gaskin is scheduled for execution in Florida on April 12, 2023 for the 1989 murders of Robert and Georgette Sturmfels. Please sign this petition asking Governor DeSantis to support the clemency process for Louis Gaskin.

Mr. Gaskin is a person with serious mental illness. He was born to a teenage mother addicted to drugs. Because of her inability to care for him, he was moved around between various family members, never having a stable environment. He dressed as a ninja on the night of his crimes, and later told people the devil got in him. Four members of his jury voted to spare his life. In no other state in the country would his execution be allowed to legally proceed.

Florida's return to executions in 2023, after more than three years of not pursuing them, marks the state as an outlier in its use of the death penalty. The majority of other states are on a downward trend of executions. Please sign the petition asking Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida State Board of Executive Clemency to do everything within their power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case.

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To: Florida Board of Executive Clemency & Governor Ron DeSantis
From: William Koenig

We are writing to ask that you to stop the April 12, 2023 execution of Louis Gaskin in revenge for his 1989 murders of Robert and Georgette Sturmfels​.

We stand together to urge you to stay the execution of Louis Gaskin, and commute his sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

We firmly believe that Mr. Gaskin should be separated from society and held accountable for his actions, which life without the possibility of parole satisfies.

Mr. Gaskin is a person with serious mental illness, and we, as a civilized state, should not kill the sick and the broken. He was born to a teenage mother addicted to drugs. Because of her inability to care for him, he was moved around between various family members, never having a stable environment. He dressed as a ninja on the night of his crimes, and later told people the devil got in him.

Four members of his jury voted to spare his life. In no other state in the country would his execution be allowed to legally proceed.

By commuting Mr. Gaskin’s sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole, you will send a message that the State of Florida cares about protecting people with serious mental illness, even those who commit horrific crimes.

We are concerned that while the vast majority of states with capital punishment continue on a downward trend of executions, Florida is going against this trend by resuming executions.

We, the undersigned, ask that you do everything within your power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case.