A Florida man who brutally murdered a young newlywed couple in front of their toddler nearly three decades ago was finally executed on Thursday, bringing a measure of justice to the victims’ family after years of waiting. James D. Ford, 64, was put to death via lethal injection at Florida State Prison for the heinous killings of Greg Malnory, 25, and his wife Kimberly, 26. The couple was found shot and beaten to death in a remote field on a 7,000-acre farm in South Florida, leaving behind their 22-month-old daughter, Maranda, who miraculously survived the attack. Ford’s execution, signed into motion by Gov. Ron DeSantis in January, marked the culmination of a 27-year ordeal for the victims’ loved ones, who have endured unimaginable grief and a long, arduous journey toward justice.
Connie Ankney, Greg Malnory’s mother, reflected on the emotional toll of the years since her son and daughter-in-law were taken from her. She traveled for hours to attend Ford’s execution, a moment she described as one of justice rather than closure. “Never give up. Always fight for your children,” Ankney said, her voice steady but tinged with pain. She remembered the day she learned of the murders, recounting how she was called to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and met with Kimberly’s mother, who was sobbing uncontrollably. The news of the couple’s deaths was almost too much to bear, Ankney admitted, especially when she learned that Greg and Kimberly had been slain in such a violent manner. Yet, even in the midst of her grief, Ankney found solace in the survival of her granddaughter, Maranda, whom she credited to divine intervention. “Poor Maranda, just left there to die,” Ankney said. “It was actually divine intervention that she survived…the angels must have been with her.”
The murders occurred on a Sunday morning in April 1997, when Greg and Kimberly had planned a fishing trip to South Florida Sod Farm, where Greg worked alongside Ford. The couple’s bodies were discovered the following day, and the evidence of their brutal deaths shocked even seasoned investigators. Greg had been shot in the head, his throat slit, and his body beaten beyond recognition. Kimberly, who had been sexually assaulted and brutally beaten, was also found shot to death. Authorities later determined that Kimberly had fought to save their daughter, strapping Maranda into her car seat before attempting to flee. Her blood was found on the child’s clothing, and defensive wounds on her arms indicated her desperate struggle to protect herself and her family. Ankney described the horror of imagining Kimberly’s final moments: “The fear that Kimberly must have felt trying to get Maranda in that car seat and trying to get into that truck… she never drove a stick in her life. Just trying to get the hell out of there and fighting him.”
The investigation into the murders revealed a trail of physical evidence that implicated Ford. Court records showed that Greg’s DNA was found on a knife in Ford’s bedroom, while Kimberly’s DNA was discovered in Ford’s truck. Additionally, Ford’s DNA was found on Kimberly’s body and clothing. Despite his calm demeanor during initial questioning, Ford’s guilt became increasingly clear as investigators pieced together the evidence. James Kenville, a responding deputy at the time and now a major with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, recalled interviewing Ford. “He was very cool, he was believable when you talked to him, but the physical evidence was telling us that wasn’t the case,” Kenville said. Ford’s conviction in 1999 on two counts of first-degree murder, sexual battery with a firearm, and child abuse led to a death sentence, which he evaded for nearly three decades through appeals and delays.
For Ankney, the years since the murders have been a testament to her strength and resilience. She described her son and daughter-in-law as a loving couple who had built a life filled with hope and promise. The two met in high school and began their romantic relationship later, eventually marrying in a picturesque ceremony in Tennessee just six months before their deaths. Ankney remembered the wedding fondly, recalling Kimberly’s white boots and the joy that filled the air. “It was such a beautiful thing,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion. “And then six months… such a horrific ending to that beautiful, beautiful family.” Ankney also shared fond memories of Greg, describing him as a fun-loving and hardworking young man who adored his family, his job at the sod farm, and his hobbies of fishing and hunting. “He went to work every day, and he told me, ‘Mom…it’s like heaven,’” she said. “And when he died there, I said, ‘Oh my God… it was where he was supposed to go.’”
Ankney found solace in her faith and her work with Parents of Murdered Children, a support group she joined several years after the murders. Since 1999, she has dedicated herself to helping other grieving parents navigate their own journeys of loss and healing. “Between them and my pastor and Jesus, I survived,” she said. “I told myself, if I can help one person, then I’ve done my job.” While the execution of James D. Ford brought a sense of justice, Ankney acknowledged that the emotional scars left by the tragedy will never fully heal. She expressed gratitude to Gov. DeSantis for signing Ford’s death warrant, saying, “I just want to give him a big hug and…tell him thank you, thank you.” For Ankney, the execution marked the end of a long and painful chapter, allowing her son and daughter-in-law to finally rest in peace. “They didn’t get a chance to be parents,” she said. “It was taken away so soon.” Yet, through her advocacy and support for others, Ankney continues to honor their memory and ensure that their story is never forgotten.
