A confessed child killer who murdered his girlfriend’s 5‑month‑old baby and dumped her in a pond is scheduled to become Florida’s eighth execution of 2026, underscoring the state’s hard line against the worst violent offenders.

Story Snapshot

• Florida plans to execute Andrew Richard Lukehart for the 1996 murder of 5‑month‑old Gabrielle Hanshaw after decades of appeals.
• Lukehart confessed to killing the infant and throwing her body into a pond, and a jury convicted him of first‑degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
• This is set to be Florida’s eighth execution in 2026, continuing a firm stance on capital punishment for the most brutal crimes.
• Death penalty opponents claim the process is unfair, but courts have repeatedly upheld the conviction and sentence.

Brutal 1996 Baby Murder That Shocked Jacksonville

On February 25, 1996, Jacksonville authorities were called into a nightmare case involving 5‑month‑old Gabrielle Hanshaw, the baby daughter of Andrew Richard Lukehart’s girlfriend.^[4] According to court records, Lukehart killed the infant and later admitted to throwing her body into a pond, turning a domestic setting into a crime scene that horrified local residents and investigators.^[4][5] A Florida jury later found him guilty of first‑degree murder and aggravated child abuse for the killing.^[4][5]

Reporting from the time and subsequent reviews describe a chilling pattern of abuse culminating in Gabrielle’s death, with prosecutors arguing that Lukehart’s actions were intentional and vicious.^[1][4] News coverage notes that he was charged with first‑degree murder in the baby’s death and that a jury ultimately returned a guilty verdict.^[1][4] These details formed the backbone of the state’s case, which portrayed the crime as among the most disturbing child killings in recent Florida history.^[1][4]

Decades of Appeals, Then a Death Warrant

After the 1997 conviction, a judge imposed a death sentence, sending Lukehart to Florida’s Death Row, where he spent nearly three decades pursuing appeals.^[4][5] The Florida Supreme Court has confirmed that a jury convicted him of first‑degree murder and aggravated child abuse, and that his conviction and sentence were repeatedly reviewed in state postconviction proceedings.^[4] Those appeals failed to overturn the original verdict, leaving the death sentence in place despite challenges from defense attorneys and advocacy groups.^[3][4]

On May 1, 2026, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant scheduling Lukehart’s execution for June 2, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke.^[4][6] An Associated Press report notes that Lukehart, now 53, is scheduled to receive a three‑drug lethal injection for the murder of his girlfriend’s infant daughter.^[5] Court records and warrant documents confirm that the state set the date and time for the execution following the completion of key rounds of appeals.^[4][6]

Florida’s Eighth Execution of the Year and the Death‑Penalty Debate

The Associated Press reports that Lukehart’s execution is set to be Florida’s eighth so far in 2026, coming on the heels of a record 19 executions carried out in the state in 2025.^[5] Advocacy groups critical of capital punishment describe his case as part of an “unconstitutional execution” pattern, citing concerns over a nonunanimous jury recommendation, his medical condition, and an expedited warrant process they argue shortens meaningful review.^[3] They portray Florida’s pace as evidence of a broader systemic problem with death‑penalty procedures.^[3]

TODAY: Florida is scheduled to carry out the execution of Andrew Richard Lukehart for the child abuse and murder of 5-year-old infant Gabrielle Hanshaw in 1996. Which is the child of his girlfriend.

He is scheduled to be executed in 6:00 P.M, making him the eighth in the state. pic.twitter.com/nl7KhMyMqZ

— Friday-Justice-Obsessions (@death_row0506) June 2, 2026

Florida prosecutors and courts, however, have consistently treated crimes like the murder of a 5‑month‑old baby as among the most aggravated offenses, fully eligible for the ultimate penalty under state law.^[4][5] The Florida Supreme Court’s recent opinion recounts the facts of the killing and leaves the conviction and sentence intact, signaling judicial confidence in the underlying case.^[4] For many Floridians who prioritize law and order, this execution represents the justice system enforcing accountability for a brutal crime against a defenseless child.^[4][5]

Sources:

[1] Web – Man who killed his girlfriend’s baby is set to be Florida’s eighth …

[3] Web – Case View – Andrew Richard Lukehart v. State of Florida

[4] Web – Jacksonville man who killed his girlfriend’s 5-month-old baby in 1996 …

[5] Web – 30 years later, 5-month-old Gabrielle Hanshaw’s killer will be …

[6] Web – Man who killed his girlfriend’s baby is set to be Florida’s eighth …