Florida Man Executed for 1998 Murder of Neighbor Cynthia Campbell

A man convicted of the **murder** and **sexual battery** of his neighbor nearly three decades ago was executed in Florida on November 7, 2025. **Norman Mearle Grim Jr.**, aged 65, maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings surrounding the death of **Cynthia Campbell**, whose body was discovered in waters near **Pensacola** in 1998.

Grim was administered a three-drug injection on death row, marking the **15th execution** in Florida this year alone, a record for the state. When asked if he wanted to make a final statement, he responded simply, “No sir.” Moments later, he began breathing heavily and twitching before being declared dead.

The case against Grim was built on substantial evidence. After **Cynthia Campbell** was reported missing, her battered body was located by a fisherman beneath the **Pensacola Bay Bridge**. Prosecutors detailed that she had suffered multiple blunt-force injuries consistent with being struck by a hammer, alongside **11 stab wounds** to the chest, seven of which penetrated her heart. DNA evidence linked Grim to the crime.

Despite this, Grim consistently denied the charges. Following a trial in 2000, he was found guilty and sentenced to death. His execution on November 7 occurred **27 years** after Campbell’s murder.

Since the **US Supreme Court** reinstated the death penalty in 1976, Florida’s previous record for annual executions stood at eight, achieved in 2014. This year, Florida has executed more individuals than any other state, with **Texas** and **Alabama** each carrying out five executions.

In the lead-up to an execution, inmates have the opportunity to appeal their sentences to both the Florida Supreme Court and the US Supreme Court. Grim did not receive any visitors on the day of his execution and did not consult with a spiritual adviser, according to prison authorities.

As of November 2025, a total of **40 men** have been executed in the US this year, with at least **18 more** individuals scheduled for execution in the near future. Two additional executions in Florida are planned next month. **Bryan Fredrick Jennings**, 66, is set to face execution on **November 13** for the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl in 1979.

This case highlights ongoing discussions surrounding the death penalty in the United States, particularly in states like Florida, where the practice continues to be a focal point of legal and ethical debate.