Florida Man Executed 50 Years After 1974 Murder

Harold Gene Lucas, 74, was executed by lethal injection Tuesday evening at Florida State Prison, more than five decades after killing 16-year-old Jill Piper in her Bonita Springs home. Lucas was pronounced dead at 6:18 p.m., according to the Florida Department of Corrections.

The case spanned 50 years from the 1974 crime to Tuesday's execution. Lucas waived his remaining appeals and chose not to contest the death sentence, effectively allowing the execution to proceed without further legal challenge.

The execution marks the conclusion of one of Florida's longest-running capital cases, reflecting the often-lengthy appellate process in death penalty cases within the state corrections system.