James Robertson: What We Know

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Florida executed James Robertson on Oct. 13, 2026 for the December 2008 killing of his cellmate, Frank Hart, at Charlotte Correctional Institution. The Florida Supreme Court's record says Robertson killed Hart so he would be charged with first-degree murder and sentenced to death. He pleaded guilty in 2012. It was Florida's 17th execution of 2026, according to the Associated Press.

What's confirmed

1. Dec. 10, 2008Robertson, already serving a prison sentence, killed his cellmate Frank Hart at Charlotte Correctional Institution. The court says he strangled Hart, and that he planned it, waiting until Hart was asleep and the guards had made their rounds. Fla. Supreme Court, Robertson v. State, No. SC13-443
2. Hart was due to be released eight days later, Dec. 18, 2008. Charlotte Sun; ABC7; AP
3. Robertson was first charged with second-degree murder. The court's opinion says he rejected a plea offer of a life sentence and insisted on first-degree murder. Fla. Supreme Court, 2016
4. October 2012indicted for first-degree murder. He pleaded guilty, waived a jury recommendation and presented no mitigating evidence. In a sworn affidavit he said he killed Hart so that he would be sentenced to death. He was sentenced to death in 2012. Fla. Supreme Court, 2016
5. March 17, 2016the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence. Fla. Supreme Court, No. SC13-443
6. Oct. 13, 2026executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison, near Starke, a little after 12:30 p.m. (outlets give 12:31 or 12:32). Charlotte Sun; AP; Fox 13; ABC7
7. Last words: reported as "Nah, I'm straight" by MySuncoast and Gulf Coast News and Weather ("Naw" in the Charlotte Sun); ABC7/AP reported he declined to make a statement.
8. Hart's daughter, Rebecca Hart, read a statement to reporters afterward: "To most people, he may be a name in a court record, a victim in a criminal case, or a part of a story they've watched on television. But to me, he was my dad." She also said: "His life mattered before his murder, and it still matters now." Charlotte Sun, Oct. 13, 2026

What we don't know / what's disputed

• What drove it. Groups that oppose the death penalty say Robertson described years of isolation in prison as torture. The state has not said that was the cause.
• Little has been made public about Frank Hart's own life beyond his family's statement.

What happens next

Nothing is pending in this case: the sentence has been carried out. We will update this page if a verified development is reported.

Chapters

1. 0:00James Robertson execution: what we know
2. 0:21Frank Hart: eight days from release
3. 0:37Robertson v. State: what the court wrote
4. 1:13James Robertson plea: why he asked for death
5. 1:27James Robertson execution: Oct. 13
6. 1:48James Robertson case: what is still unknown
7. 2:04Frank Hart's daughter: her statement

Sources

1. Robertson v. State, No. SC13-443, Florida Supreme Court, Mar. 17, 2016 Primary recordlibrary.law.fsu.edu/Digital-Collections/flsupct/dockets/sc13-443/sc13-443.html
2. Charlotte Sun, Oct. 13, 2026 Reportingyoursun.com/charlotte/news/james-robertson-executed/article_27f18fa1-eb82-4fd4-ae2b-87237ff532c6.html
3. ABC7 / Associated Press, Oct. 13, 2026 Reportingabc7.com/post/florida-execution-today-state-executes-james-robertson-killed-cellmate-frank-hart-hopes-getting-death-penalty/19935751/
4. MySuncoast, Oct. 2 and Oct. 13, 2026 Reportingmysuncoast.com/2026/10/13/florida-inmate-james-robertson-set-execution-today/
5. Fox 13 Tampa Bay, Oct. 2026 Reportingfox13news.com/news/desantis-signs-death-warrant-inmate-featured-netflix-series-schedules-double-execution-day

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Part of What We Know: open cases, confirmed facts only · YouTube playlist