Frank Walls died by lethal injection on Thursday for a 1987 double murder and became the 19th inmate executed in Florida in 2025. Photo Courtesy of the Okaloosa Department of Corrections
Florida upped its execution record to 19 after enforcing the death penalty via lethal injection on Frank Athen Walls, who was pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m. EST on Thursday.
Walls, 58, was convicted of two counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping and one count each of burglary and theft during a 1988 trial, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
Walls apologized for the murders before his executioners applied the lethal dose of three drugs as 23 witnesses observed the procedure from their seats.
“Good evening, everyone. I appreciate the opportunity to say what’s on my heart. If any of the members of the family are here, I am sorry for all of the things I did, the pain I caused and all of that you have suffered all these years,” Walls said.
Walls was sentenced to death on Aug. 24, 1988, after being found guilty of killing U.S. Air Force airman Edward Alger, 21, and his girlfriend, Ann Peterson, 20, in July 1987.
Alger was stationed at Elgin Air Force Base when Walls broke into his home in the Florida Panhandle and tied up Alger and Peterson.
Alger freed himself, but Walls cut his throat and shot him in the head and then attacked Peterson, whom he shot while she struggled with him.
Walls was arrested a day after the couple’s bodies were found and Walls’ roommate reported him to the police.
A search of Walls’ home turned up items stolen from Alger’s home, and he admitted to killing them. Walls later was tied to three other murders, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
Former Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office investigator Joe Nelson and retired Okaloosa Corrections Officer Pat Hanratty each attended Walls’ execution.
Although he retired from law enforcement 18 years ago, Nelson told the Pensacola News Journal that Walls’ execution “will officially end my law enforcement career.”
Hanratty said Walls acted like he was special due to being a serial killer and didn’t bother to follow the rules.
“I had to wrestle him down a few times when he got into fights with other inmates,” Hanratty told the News Journal.
