Nonprofit Accuses DeSantis of Being 'Calculated' and 'Hypocritical' in Executing Murderous Dozier Survivor

TALLAHASSEE, FL—A nonprofit organization opposed to the death penalty is accusing the Governor of being "calculated" and "hypocritical" in the Thursday evening execution of rapist and murderer Loran Cole, citing confusion over why the Legislature would honor victims of a horror boys' school that Cole attended but still choose to execute him.

Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP) believes that because Cole was "beaten and raped" at Central Florida's Dozier School for Boys, this is a mitigating factor that should have stayed his execution. The Florida Supreme Court disagreed.

"While there is never a legal or moral justification for the death penalty in modern society, Loran’s execution feels particularly calculated and particularly hypocritical," Maria DeLiberato, the group's Executive Director, wrote in a press release. She pointed out that less than a month before Cole's execution date was decided, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill allowing Dozier survivors to claim up to $50,000 in state compensation because staff had beat, raped, and killed up to 100 boys in the 111 years it was open.

Cole attended the school for a period in 1984 and says he too was abused. He cited this and later the 2024 compensation law multiple times to various courts in hopes of postconviction relief. It was denied every time.

When The Floridian reached out to DeLiberato for clarification on how the execution was "calculated", she explained, "Because of the secrecy of how the governor chooses [whom to execute], it’s of course hard to say for sure why he chose Mr. Cole. But it seems purposeful to me to choose a Dozier survivor having just signed the compensation bill."

She speculated that Cole was selected to "minimize the harm the state thinks they caused at Dozier", but acknowledged that "it's hard to say". Overall, DeLiberato said, "It seems like a strange choice based on the timing of the bill."

In 1994, Cole helped FSU freshman John Edwards and his sister Pam set up their camping equipment in Ocala National Forest, before leaving. Later, he and a man named William Paul returned to the campsite, sat around the fire, and went for a walk with the siblings. Cole then attacked and handcuffed Pam before helping Paul restrain John—robbing the Edwards'.

Cole beat John with a walking stick and slit his throat. Next, he raped Pam that night and the following morning, though she managed to escape the next day. Because of her, authorities were able to identify and arrest the perpetrators. In 1995, Paul was sentenced to life in prison, and Cole to death.

By Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, the day set for his execution, FADP had delivered more than 100 letters signed by faith leaders urging a stay of execution and sent more than 7,000 petition signatures via email. Chaired by Herman Lindsey, a Florida death row exoneree who was wrongfully convicted, the group also held a virtual vigil for Cole and staged protests outside of Rayford's Florida State Prison and the Governor's mansion.

"We were told that due to construction, there is no way for the public to access the Governor’s office," DeLiberato wrote in her statement. "Not even a makeshift reception area to allow Floridians’ voices to be heard...A selection process shrouded in secrecy. No way for the public to make its voice heard. Key officials unavailable the week we are killing a human being."

"This is no system of orderly justice. We the people of the State of Florida deserve and demand better," she added.

Cole was joined by his son and his four-year pen pal on the day of his execution. His last meal was comprised of pizza, ice cream, M&M's, and soda. When asked if he had any last words, he replied, "No, sir."

At 6:15 p.m., Cole was pronounced dead by lethal injection.