Andrew Richard Lukehart, 53, was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke on Tuesday, June 2, nearly three decades after being convicted of murdering his girlfriend’s 5-month-old daughter, Gabrielle Hanshaw. Lukehart received a death sentence in 1997 following his conviction for first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse, according to court records and news reports from the Associated Press and USA Today.
Authorities say that on February 25, 1996, Lukehart, who was then caring for the infant while her mother attended to a sick sibling, struck Hanshaw multiple times in the head, fracturing her skull. After realizing the baby was dead, he allegedly disposed of her body in a nearby pond. Initially, he misled his girlfriend by claiming that the infant had been kidnapped and that he was attempting to pursue an abductor.
During the trial, Lukehart admitted to forcefully handling the infant, stating he repeatedly pushed her head and neck to the floor while attempting to change her diaper. He also claimed that he did not intend to kill the baby. Prosecutors countered that his actions were deliberate and caused the infant’s death, noting his prior felony child abuse convictions and his probation status at the time of the incident.
In his final moments, Lukehart recited a Bible verse, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” while a priest offered prayers at his side, according to reports. He expressed brief remorse during the execution but maintained that the events leading to the death were not premeditated.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Lukehart’s death warrant on May 1, 2026, and the state’s Attorney General, James Uthmeier, confirmed that no court had issued a stay of execution. The warrant detailed the evidence presented during trial, including Lukehart’s own testimony about his handling of the infant and the subsequent attempts to conceal the crime.
Court documents indicate that Lukehart’s actions caused immediate and catastrophic harm to Gabrielle Hanshaw, and investigators emphasized that the incident was preventable. Law enforcement officers discovered the infant’s body after Lukehart crashed his vehicle later that day, which led to his confession.
The case remains one of the most harrowing child homicide cases in Florida’s recent history, highlighting the consequences of repeated abuse and the legal system’s pursuit of justice over decades. Lukehart’s execution marks the final chapter in a case that began with the tragic death of a vulnerable infant and concluded with the enforcement of a capital sentence.
