JUST IN: Thomas Lee Gudinas Executed – Apologized Before Dying | Shocking Last Words & Final Meal
Thomas Lee Gudinas was executed on June 24th, 2025, after spending more than three decades on death row. He was sentenced to death for a crime so brutal it shocked the city of Orlando and made national headlines. His execution took place by lethal injection at Florida State Prison in Starke.
In this video, we’ll walk you through the horrific crime that sealed his fate, the trial that followed, his final moments, his last meal, and the haunting words he chose to say before dying.
The Crime
On May 21st, 1994, Orlando, Florida, became the scene of a crime that shocked the city and would seal the fate of Thomas Lee Gudinas, then 20 years old.
That night, Michelle McGrath, a 22-year-old woman, was out enjoying herself at Barbarella’s, a downtown nightclub. Around 2:45 a.m., McGrath was last seen leaving the venue and walking toward her vehicle. Hours later, at 7:30 a.m., a school employee discovered her body in an alley near a school.
The scene was brutal. McGrath was found naked except for her bra, showing clear signs of sexual assault and extreme violence. The autopsy revealed she died from a brain hemorrhage caused by a severe blow to the head, likely a kick. Additionally, objects were found inserted into her vaginal and rectal cavities. Her blood alcohol level was 0.17%. The medical examiner determined that death occurred 30 to 60 minutes after the fatal injury and that McGrath had fought for her life, as evidenced by defensive wounds on her hands.
The Investigation and Arrest
The investigation moved quickly. Witnesses identified Gudinas fleeing the scene and linked him to another attempted assault that same night. Michelle Smith, another woman who had been at Barbarella’s, testified that Gudinas chased her to her car and tried to force his way in while yelling sexual threats. Smith managed to escape and later identified Gudinas in a photo lineup and again at trial.
Other witnesses placed him near the crime scene and reported seeing him in possession of McGrath’s keys, which he claimed were his. The forensic evidence was damning. Gudinas’ fingerprints were found on McGrath’s vehicle, and semen matching his DNA was recovered from her body.
His roommates testified that he returned home that morning with bloodstained clothing and confessed, saying, “I killed her, then I [ __ ] her.” Gudinas was arrested shortly after.
The Trial and Sentencing
Due to the high media coverage, the case was moved to Collier County to ensure a fair trial. In 1995, he was convicted of first-degree murder, two counts of sexual battery, attempted sexual battery, and attempted robbery with assault.
The jury recommended the death penalty by a 10-to-2 vote, and the judge formally imposed it on June 16th, 1995.
During the trial, the defense presented evidence of Gudinas’ troubled childhood—a life of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse at the hands of family members and caregivers. He was diagnosed with multiple psychiatric disorders and had been through 105 institutions, never receiving long-term treatment.
Experts testified that he had a low IQ and severe psychological impairments with an extremely limited ability to control his impulses, especially under the influence of alcohol and drugs, which he had consumed the night of the crime.
Interviewer: “I said, ‘Uh, did you have sex with her when she was dead?'” Gudinas: “‘Yeah, just joking around.’ And I apologize to the family for that. That was stupid. But um…” Interviewer: “Do you recall telling the police? He said, ‘Yeah, I killed her then.'” Gudinas: “Yeah.” Interviewer: “Do you remember now that’s what he said?” Gudinas: “Yeah.”
Decades of Appeals
Over the years, Gudinas filed numerous appeals claiming ineffective counsel, procedural errors, and mental health issues. All were denied by state and federal courts, which ruled that the aggravating factors outweighed any mitigating ones.
Thomas Lee Gudinas’ attorneys recently argued before the Florida Supreme Court that his execution was no longer constitutionally acceptable, citing the evolution of societal standards of decency. They maintained that due to the severe mental illness he suffered at the time of the crime, the death penalty would serve no deterrent effect and would amount only to an act of vengeance.
His aunt, Judith Gudinas Tero, remained convinced of his innocence. Back in 1994, she shared that he had found God while in prison and kept a newspaper photo of Michelle McGrath tucked inside his Bible.
Meanwhile, McGrath’s loved ones dismissed Gudinas’ final legal efforts as nothing more than procedural tactics. Most chose not to attend the execution, viewing it as an additional layer of trauma. Still, they expressed relief at no longer having to receive annual calls and letters from the state about developments in Gudinas’ case. For many, the execution did not bring closure, but it did bring an end.
The Final Moments and Execution
On May 23rd, 2025, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the execution warrant for Thomas Lee Gudinas, scheduling it for June 24th, 2025, at Florida State Prison in Starke. Gudinas, aged 51, became the seventh person executed in Florida in 2025.
On Tuesday, June 24th, Gudinas woke up at 4:45 a.m. He received a visit from his mother but chose not to meet with a spiritual adviser. For his final meal, he requested pepperoni pizza, French fries, and a soft drink.
Later that day, at exactly 6:00 p.m., the curtain to the execution chamber was drawn open. Gudinas was already strapped to a gurney with an IV inserted into his left arm. After completing a final call with the governor’s office, the warden asked Gudinas if he had any last words. Though his response was inaudible to those in the witness room, prison officials stated that he expressed remorse and mentioned Jesus.
Moments later, the lethal injection process began. His eyes rolled back, and his chest moved slightly as he experienced mild convulsions. Within minutes, his skin turned pale, and his body became completely still.
At 6:23 p.m., the warden officially declared the execution complete. The curtain was closed, and the witnesses were escorted out of the chamber.
Gudinas became the seventh person executed in Florida this year and the 24th execution carried out in the United States in 2025.
