Florida Executes Killer of Inventor and Wife, Marking Record 13th Execution This Year
MIAMI, FLORIDA — A Florida man convicted of brutally murdering an inventor and his wife more than three decades ago was executed Tuesday, becoming the 13th inmate put to death in the state this year — the highest annual total in Florida history.
The Crime That Shocked Miami
Victor Tony Jones, 64, was executed by lethal injection on September 30 for the 1990 murders of Jack and Dolly Nestor. The Brooklyn-born couple, then in their 60s, were killed inside their Miami workshop.
Court records say Jones, who had been hired for day labor, first stabbed Dolly Nestor in the neck after she refused to pay him for unfinished work. He then turned on Jack Nestor, who managed to shoot Jones in the head before succumbing to a fatal stab wound to the heart.
A UPS driver discovered the bloody scene and alerted authorities. Police found Jones wounded but alive, carrying the couple’s belongings in his pockets.
A Family Left Scarred
The Nestors left behind two children, four grandchildren, and would never meet their eight great-grandchildren. Their daughter, Irene Fisher, witnessed Tuesday’s execution.
“After seeing what I saw tonight, I wish my parents had that opportunity to die so gracefully,” Fisher said. “They were violently killed. My father fought for 20 minutes with a stab wound in his heart, and my mother died instantly on a cold floor.”
Family members remembered Jack as a brilliant inventor and Dolly as his steadfast partner. Jack Nestor held over two dozen patents, including medical devices and surgical tools, and one of his sculptures is displayed in a federal building in Miami.
The Execution
Jones, who had argued through his attorneys that his low IQ made him unfit for execution, declined to give final words. His last meal was fried chicken, collard greens, and sweet tea, according to reports.
He was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m. ET, becoming the 34th person executed in the United States in 2025. This marks the most executions carried out nationwide in a single year since 2014.
Florida’s Record Year of Executions
Jones’s execution set a grim milestone for Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis has signed more death warrants this year than any previous governor, surpassing the state’s prior record of eight executions in a single year.
With two more executions already scheduled before year’s end, Florida could widen that record even further.
The Nestors’ granddaughter, Shaina Nestor, said the family still feels the impact of the murders decades later. “They were extraordinary … it was a very, very happy home,” she said.
Do you believe Florida’s record number of executions this year reflects justice or raises deeper concerns? Share your thoughts and join the discussion at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
