Thomas Lee Gudinas, a Florida death row inmate whose violent crime shocked the city of Orlando in the 1990s, was executed Tuesday evening, June 24, at Florida State Prison. He was 51 years old. The execution brought a close to a case that has haunted the community for over three decades and devastated the family of the young woman whose life was brutally taken.

Gudinas was sentenced to death in 1995 after being convicted of the rape and murder of 27-year-old Michelle McGrath, a crime that took place on May 24, 1994. Despite the passage of time, the details of the case remain painful for many who remember it. McGrath had gone out for the evening with a friend to Barbarella’s, a popular nightclub in downtown Orlando. She was last seen alive during the early hours of the morning, exiting the club. Gudinas had also been at the same club that night, accompanied by a group of friends. What followed would leave a permanent scar on the city’s memory.

Later that same morning, McGrath’s body was discovered in a nearby alley by a school employee. The staff member, who had been arriving for work, noticed suspicious activity and later told investigators that he had seen a man running from the area shortly before making the horrifying discovery. That man was later identified as Thomas Gudinas.

An autopsy confirmed that McGrath had been sexually assaulted and had suffered multiple injuries consistent with a violent physical attack. Authorities believe she was ambushed while walking alone to her car, likely in the moments after leaving the bar. The brutality of the attack stunned both law enforcement and the local community, not only because of its senselessness but also due to the sheer level of violence inflicted on the young woman.

Gudinas was quickly arrested and charged. He was later convicted of first-degree murder and sexual battery. During the trial, evidence presented to the court left little doubt about his guilt. Eyewitness accounts, physical evidence, and Gudinas’ own behavior following the incident helped seal the case against him. In 1995, he was formally sentenced to death and placed on Florida’s death row, where he remained for nearly 30 years until his execution this week.

On Tuesday evening, Gudinas was put to death by lethal injection. According to official reports, the procedure was carried out without complications, though witnesses noted visible physical reactions as the drugs were administered. Observers described his eyes rolling back and his chest convulsing slightly before his body eventually went still. He was officially pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m. local time.

Although his final words were not clearly audible to those present, Bryan Griffin, a spokesperson for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, stated that Gudinas had expressed remorse in his last moments and made reference to Jesus. Despite being offered the opportunity, Gudinas chose not to meet with a spiritual advisor before his execution. Officials also confirmed that the only person who visited him in his final hours was his mother, who remained by his side as the end approached.

Gudinas’ last meal was a combination of comfort foods—pizza, French fries, and soda—a request that stood in stark contrast to the gravity of the circumstances. The Florida Department of Corrections followed its standard procedures in preparing and delivering the final meal.

It remains unknown whether any members of Michelle McGrath’s family attended the execution. At the time of Gudinas’ sentencing, her father, Douglas McGrath, made public statements that captured the emotional toll the crime had taken on his family. “It seems like a tragic waste of his life and my daughter’s life,” he said. “We are deprived of my daughter… forever.” Those words echoed the profound sense of loss that has persisted through the decades since her death.

Florida has seen a notable increase in executions in 2025. Gudinas was the seventh person to be executed in the state this year, making Florida the most active state in the nation in terms of carrying out capital punishment. According to data reported by Metro, there have been a total of 24 executions across the United States so far this year, with Florida accounting for nearly a third of them.

Speaking after the execution, Florida Department of Corrections spokesman Ted Veerman acknowledged the increase in activity. “Our staff are doing a fantastic job keeping up with the pace of these executions,” he stated. “And we are going through with these in a professional manner.” His remarks reflect a system that continues to move forward with enforcing capital punishment despite ongoing debates across the country about its morality, effectiveness, and potential for error.

For those directly affected by Gudinas’ crime—particularly the McGrath family—his execution may offer a sense of closure, albeit a painful one. While no action can undo the past or restore what was taken, the conclusion of Gudinas’ time on death row closes a chapter that began with an unthinkable act of violence.

The case of Thomas Lee Gudinas stands as a grim reminder of the far-reaching consequences of violent crime. It serves as a somber reflection on justice, the enduring pain of victims’ families, and the long, often agonizing process through which the legal system addresses such deeply personal tragedies. For many in Orlando, the memory of Michelle McGrath’s life and the senseless way it ended remain vivid even now, decades later. As Florida continues its active enforcement of capital punishment laws, the broader questions surrounding justice, retribution, and healing remain as relevant as ever.