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Gov Scott Signs Fifth Death Warrant

Florida Department of Corrections

Governor Rick Scott has signed his fifth death warrant.  It’s for a man who is convicted of killing eight people in two separate incidents.

In the late 1970s, John Errol Ferguson was convicted of what some called one of the worst mass killings in Miami-Dade history. In that incident, the now 64-year-old killed six people when he was looking for drugs in a Carol City home in 1977. A year later, he killed two teens from Hialeah. Spokesman for the Governor’s office Lane Wright says Governor Rick Scott took everything into consideration when he signed Ferguson’s death warrant Tuesday.

“What applies here, applies to any death warrant, the Governor signs," said Wright. "It’s one of the most solemn duties that he has as Governor, and it’s not one that he takes lightly. His foremost concerns are the considerations of the victims and the victims’ families and to make sure that justice prevails.”

Ferguson is slated to die by lethal injection at Florida State Prison at 6 p.m. on October 16th.

Sascha Cordner has more than ten years of public radio experience. It includes working at NPR member station WUFT-FM in Gainesville for several years. She's worked in both radio and TV, serving in various capacities as a reporter, producer and anchor. She's also a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in telecommunications. She is the recipient of 15 awards from the Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and Edward R. Murrow. Her award-winning stories include her coverage on the infamous “Dozier School for Boys” and a feature titled "Male Breast Cancer: Lost in the Sea of Pink." Currently, Sascha serves as the host and producer of local and state news content for the afternoon news program "All Things Considered" at WFSU. Sascha primarily covers criminal justice and social services issues. When she's not reporting, Sascha likes catching up on her favorite TV shows, singing and reading. Follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter:@SaschaCordner.