A man found guilty of fatally stabbing a woman during a home invasion nearly four decades ago was put to death on Tuesday evening in Florida.

Mark Allen Geralds, aged 58, was declared dead at 6.15pm after receiving a three-drug lethal injection at Florida State Prison for the February 1989 killing of Tressa Pettibone. The execution marked the 18th in Florida this year, setting a new state record for the highest number of executions in a single year, with another scheduled for next week.

When asked whether he wished to make any final statement, Geralds addressed someone by name, though the name could not be heard clearly. He said, "I'm sorry that I missed you."

He then added, "I loved you every day."

As the lethal drugs were administered, he took approximately a dozen deep breaths. H

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