The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has appealed to Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay the Sept. 30 scheduled execution of Victor Jones and commute his sentences to life imprisonment without parole. 

Jones was convicted of and sentenced to death for the first-degree murders of Jacob and Matilda Nestor in 1990. In a letter to DeSantis, Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, expressed sorrow for the tragic deaths of the victims and the suffering of their loved ones. 

A survivor of abuse at the Okeechobee School, Jones is among the former students whom the Florida Legislature formally recognized and compensated through the Dozier and Okeechobee School Victim Compensation Program. “It cannot be that with one hand the state pays out compensation to men abused and tortured as children in its care (abuse of which the jurors in this case were not told) while at the same time with its other hand puts one of these victims to death,” wrote Sheedy. 

“To what degree did the abuse suffered by Mr. Jones and acknowledged by the attorney general contribute to the disturbed condition in which he committed his crimes?” Sheedy continued. “We appeal to your conscience, Governor. This extraordinary factor alone justifies commuting the death penalty to a sentence of life without parole.”

The Catholic Church teaches that all human life, given by God, is sacred. The death penalty attacks the inviolability of the human person. Life-long incarceration without the possibility of parole is a severe yet more humane punishment that ensures societal safety, allows the guilty the possibility of redemption, and offers finality to court processes. Given our modern penal system, executions are unnecessary.

Before Jones’ scheduled execution, Catholic faithful and members of the community will gather in multiple locations across Florida to pray for him, for the victims and their family, and for DeSantis as he considers the request to stay the execution.

Full text of letter to DeSantis