Donald Dillbeck was executed by the State of Florida for a murder that was committed during a prison escape
According to court documents Donald Dillbeck was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Deputy Lynn Hall when he would escape from a work camp. Within days of his escape Dillbeck would stab to death Faye Vann in a Tallahassee mall parking lot
Donald Dillbeck would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
Donald Dillbeck would be executed on February 23 2023 by lethal injection
Donald Dillbeck Photos
Donald Dillbeck FAQ
When Was Donald Dillbeck Executed
Donald Dillbeck was executed on February 23 2023
How Was Donald Dillbeck executed
Donald Dillbeck was executed by lethal injection
Donald Dillbeck Case
For the first time in nearly four years, Florida executed a man Thursday for a carjacking that led to the brutal murder of a woman more than three decades ago.
Donald Dillbeck, 59, was pronounced dead at Florida State Prison at 6:13 p.m. ET, the governor’s office said. Dillbeck, who died by lethal injection, was condemned in the fatal stabbing of Faye Lamb Vann, 44, in a Tallahassee mall parking lot.
The death marked Florida’s 100th execution since the death penalty was reinstated by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1976 and executions resumed in the state in 1979.
At the time of the murder, Dillbeck was a fugitive after escaping a work-release catering job in Gadsden County, where he was serving a life sentence for killing Lee County Deputy Dwight Lynn Hall, 31, in 1979. Dillbeck was 15 at the time
Prior to that, he stabbed a man in Indiana while trying to steal a CB radio, court records show. Dillbeck fled to Florida, where the deputy found him in a Fort Myers Beach parking lot. While Hall was searching him, Dillbeck hit the deputy in the groin and ran. Hall tackled him and Dillbeck took Hall’s gun and shot him twice.
He then walked to the shopping mall, where Vann was waiting for her family, approached her car with the knife and demanded a ride, court records show.
Vann tried to drive off and fought back, but Dillbeck stabbed her more than 20 times and slit her throat, court records show. He crashed the car a short time later and was captured running from the scene.
On the day of his execution, Donald Dillbeck went through his normal routine, Department of Corrections spokeswoman Michelle Glady said Thursday.
He visited with his spiritual adviser, she said.
At 9:45 a.m., he had his last meal: fried shrimp, mushrooms, onion rings, butter pecan ice cream, pecan pie and a chocolate bar, the Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network reported.
The curtain between the death chamber and the viewing room opened at 6 p.m. Thursday.
His last words: “I know I hurt people when I was young. I really messed up.” He also criticized Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, saying “he has done a lot worse. He’s taken a lot from a lot of people. I speak for all men, women and children. He’s put his foot on our necks.”
The execution began at 6:02 p.m., and Dillbeck closed his eyes shortly thereafter. He was declared dead roughly 10 minutes later.
