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John R Henry was executed by the state last night. He is the 18th inmate to die under Rick Scott’s Governorship, but when the sun rose this morning at Florida State Prison, there were still 397 people on death row.

It took Rick Scott almost 10 months after taking office to carry out his first execution.

“The sentence of the state of Florida vs John Henry was carried out at 7:43 PM” is how prison spokesperson Jessica Cary announced the first Florida execution since a botched lethal injection in Oklahoma in May.

Wednesday’s execution of John R. Henry was Scott’s 18th.

At 18, Rick Scott has executed more people than any other Governor in his first term. Surprising in some ways because it’s a duty he says he never thought about when he was seeking the office. “You know, look, executions are a solemn duty of the Governor. It’s not something I thought about when I was going to run, but I uphold the laws of the land” Scott told reporters this week.

Only Jeb Bush sent more to their maker…21…but it took him 8 years.At the prison Wednesday night, the niece and cousin of the victims said it was about time. “I just want to thank the state for finally taking care of this…it’s been a long time coming”  said Selena Geiger, who waited 25 years from her aunt’s killing to execution.

Since 2010 there have been 19 executions, but  65 more arrived on death row.

At the State Capitol, Protestors gathered to remember the victims and the killer. One reason for the increased pace of executions may be because many cases have exhausted their appeals. Death Penalty Opponent Sheila Meehan was asked her thoughts on why there are more executions. “Do you think its this Governor or do you think its finally these cases have been brewing for 25 years.”

“No, I think it’s this Governor and his General Counsel Pete Antonacci” responded Meehan.

217 of the current death row residents arrived there before the year 2000.It was 29 years from John R Henry’s crime to his execution. Eddy Wayne Davis, who raped and murdered an 11 year old girl is set to die July 10th. (Use some of the stats I sent for your counties sending people to death row).