The man convicted of killing a Fort Pierce police officer more than three decades ago was executed Tuesday evening at Florida State Prison.Billy Kearse was put to death at 6:24 p.m. for the 1991 murder of Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish. Witnesses inside the execution chamber included Parrish’s widow, Mirtha Busbin, who has spent decades waiting for the sentence to be carried out.“It’s been a long, long 35 years, and 35 years and just a few hours too long,” Busbin said after the execution. “Danny only had a few seconds that night. But one thing I can say is this is about justice for Danny.”The case dates back to January 1991, when Parrish stopped Kearse for driving the wrong way down a one-way street in Fort Pierce.During the stop, investigators say a struggle broke out. Kearse grabbed Parrish’s service weapon and fired 14 shots, killing the officer.Kearse was later convicted of the murder and sentenced to death. He remained on death row for decades as the case moved through the appeals process.In January, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Kearse’s death warrant, setting the stage for Tuesday’s execution.In his final statement inside the execution chamber, Kearse apologized to Parrish’s family.“I sincerely apologize for what I’ve done,” Kearse said. “There is no way I can repay that with this death. It will never repay that. All I can do is ask for their forgiveness to give you peace and resolve.”Busbin said the moment was emotional, but emphasized the execution was not about celebration.“We didn’t win anything tonight. We basically lost another life,” she said. “But we did win justice. And that’s what this was about.”For decades, Busbin advocated for the sentence to be carried out, writing letters to state leaders and following each step of the lengthy appeals process. She said she often received updates about those appeals around the holidays each year.After hearing Kearse’s final apology, she said she feels a sense of closure.“I really didn’t expect to hear an apology out of him,” Busbin said. “This doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t bring Danny back. But knowing that he apologized and he’s accepted the Lord, it makes it easier for me to move on.”
STARKE, Fla. —
The man convicted of killing a Fort Pierce police officer more than three decades ago was executed Tuesday evening at Florida State Prison.
Billy Kearse was put to death at 6:24 p.m. for the 1991 murder of Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish. Witnesses inside the execution chamber included Parrish’s widow, Mirtha Busbin, who has spent decades waiting for the sentence to be carried out.
“It’s been a long, long 35 years, and 35 years and just a few hours too long,” Busbin said after the execution. “Danny only had a few seconds that night. But one thing I can say is this is about justice for Danny.”
The case dates back to January 1991, when Parrish stopped Kearse for driving the wrong way down a one-way street in Fort Pierce.
During the stop, investigators say a struggle broke out. Kearse grabbed Parrish’s service weapon and fired 14 shots, killing the officer.
Kearse was later convicted of the murder and sentenced to death. He remained on death row for decades as the case moved through the appeals process.
In January, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Kearse’s death warrant, setting the stage for Tuesday’s execution.
In his final statement inside the execution chamber, Kearse apologized to Parrish’s family.
“I sincerely apologize for what I’ve done,” Kearse said. “There is no way I can repay that with this death. It will never repay that. All I can do is ask for their forgiveness to give you peace and resolve.”
Busbin said the moment was emotional, but emphasized the execution was not about celebration.
“We didn’t win anything tonight. We basically lost another life,” she said. “But we did win justice. And that’s what this was about.”
For decades, Busbin advocated for the sentence to be carried out, writing letters to state leaders and following each step of the lengthy appeals process. She said she often received updates about those appeals around the holidays each year.
After hearing Kearse’s final apology, she said she feels a sense of closure.
“I really didn’t expect to hear an apology out of him,” Busbin said. “This doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t bring Danny back. But knowing that he apologized and he’s accepted the Lord, it makes it easier for me to move on.”