PUNTA GORDA, Fla — Governor Ron DeSantis signed the first death warrant of 2025 on Friday, for the man convicted of killing a Punta Gorda couple in 1997.
James Ford has been on death row since 1999, when he was found guilty of killing Greg and Kimberly Malnory.
![James Ford](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/786c489/2147483647/strip/true/crop/313x385+0+0/resize/313x385!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F78%2F8a%2Fd2686a594ae0b5111ba7d40c2e07%2Fjames-d-ford-mug.jpeg)
Florida Department of Corrections
The couple was found near a vehicle outside of a sod business in Punta Gorda. Their toddler child was found alive in the back seat of the vehicle.
![Greg and Kimberly Malnory](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/430c040/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1176x1198+0+0/resize/1176x1198!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd0%2F8d%2F78f5209e48f4beb3fd0a3c66e8bd%2Fscreenshot-2025-01-11-at-3-40-24-pm.png)
Fox 4
Ford was also convicted of sexual battery and child neglect.
His attorney has until January 27 to appeal the warrant for his execution.