Florida’s execution spree came even as its lethal injection protocol has come under scrutiny, prompting fears that those executed are at risk of complications and needless suffering.
Tag: death penalty
Posted inCold Blooded
The ‘hanging judge’: Legacy of Jim Crow looms over Jacksonville Death Row case
An examination by The Tributary shows that Judge Hudson Olliff possessed retrograde views on race that were an open secret in Jacksonville’s legal community but less understood by the general public.
Posted inFlorida
‘Cold-Blooded’ wins 2025 Online News Award, recognized for impact
The Tributary today was awarded one of journalism’s most prestigious awards. ‘Cold-Blooded’ won the Online News Association’s feature reporting award, honoring excellence in online journalism that shows depth, insight and new understanding. The series has already been cited in filings to the Florida Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court.
Posted inFlorida
Florida Supreme Court denies Duval Death Row inmate’s appeal ahead of execution
The Florida Supreme Court upheld a decision by a Duval circuit judge that rejected relief for a Death Row inmate – despite signed affidavits by two prosecution witnesses who said they were coerced by the state to lie. Michael Bell is scheduled to die on July 15.
Posted inFlorida
Cops had a choice of witnesses. They used the liar to put a Jacksonville man on Death Row
A cache of records recently obtained by The Tributary paints a vivid portrait of Sidney Jones, who was at once a petty thief, burglar, gunman, and liar, as well as a longtime paid police informant whose controlled buys gave cops probable cause for arrests.
Posted inFlorida
Witnesses say their lies put a man on Death Row. Then they took it back
On June 16, Henry Edwards signed a detailed affidavit acknowledging that he gave false testimony in a 1995 capital murder case as a favor to a Jacksonville detective – false testimony that put a man on Death Row. On Monday, after prosecutors and a judge told Edwards that recanting his past testimony could lead to criminal charges, he took it all back.
Posted inBehind the Story
Behind the story of ‘Cold-Blooded’
Nichole spent seven months investigating the 30-year-old prosecution against Kenneth Hartley, a project The Tributary published last month under the heading “Cold-Blooded.” Here, she answers some questions about the story, how it was reported, and what’s next.