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Fort Pierce Today
By the People, for the People
Florida Executes Billy Kearse for 1991 Murder of Police Officer
Kearse was on death row for 29 years before being put to death by lethal injection
Published on Mar. 5, 2026
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Billy Leon Kearse, convicted in October 1991 in the Jan. 18, 1991, murder of Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish, was executed on March 3 after 29 years on death row. The death warrant for Kearse was signed in January 2026 by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and Kearse was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m. after receiving a lethal injection at Florida State Prison in Raiford.
Why it matters
The execution of Kearse, who was convicted of killing a police officer, has reignited debates around capital punishment, sentencing, and the role of the death penalty in the criminal justice system. It also highlights the long delays that can occur between a conviction and an actual execution in the state of Florida.
The details
Kearse was convicted in October 1991 and sentenced to death in March 1997 for the murder of Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish. He spent 29 years on death row before his execution was carried out by lethal injection at Florida State Prison.
- Kearse was convicted in October 1991.
- Kearse was sentenced to death in March 1997.
- The death warrant for Kearse was signed in January 2026 by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
- Kearse was executed on March 3, 2026.
- Kearse was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m. on March 3, 2026.
The players
Billy Leon Kearse
A man convicted in October 1991 and sentenced to death in March 1997 for the murder of Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish.
Danny Parrish
A Fort Pierce Police Officer who was murdered by Billy Leon Kearse in January 1991.
Ron DeSantis
The Governor of Florida who signed the death warrant for Billy Leon Kearse in January 2026.
The takeaway
The execution of Billy Leon Kearse, 29 years after his conviction, highlights the complex and often lengthy legal process surrounding capital punishment cases in Florida. It reignites debates around the role of the death penalty and the criminal justice system's ability to provide timely resolution for victims' families.
