Florida Set to Execute Man Convicted of 1986 Murder

Feb 24, 2026

68 min

Feb 24, 2026 06:31

Man convicted of killing a grocery store owner set to be executed in Florida

## Execution Scheduled for Melvin Trotter

Melvin Trotter, 65, is scheduled for execution in Florida on February 24, 2026, for the 1986 murder of grocery store owner Virgie Langford. The execution will take place at Florida State Prison near Starke, using a three-drug injection.

## Details of the Crime

Trotter was convicted of strangling and stabbing Langford during a robbery at her store in Palmetto. Langford, before succumbing to her injuries, identified Trotter as her attacker, noting a Tropicana employee badge with the name "Melvin." Evidence included a T-shirt with Langford's blood type found at Trotter's home and his handprint at the crime scene.

## Legal Proceedings

Initially sentenced to death in 1987, Trotter's case was revisited by the Florida Supreme Court due to trial errors, leading to a re-sentencing in 1993 where he again received the death penalty. Recent appeals by Trotter's attorneys, citing mismanagement of death penalty protocols and his age, were denied by the Florida Supreme Court. Final appeals are pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

## Context of Executions in Florida

Trotter's execution follows a record year for executions in Florida, with 19 carried out in 2025 under Governor Ron DeSantis. Florida has already executed one person this year and has two more scheduled for March. The state uses a combination of a sedative, a paralytic, and a heart-stopping drug for executions.

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