Last updated: August 3, 2026
Who is being executed in August 2026? Searches about capital punishment and upcoming executions are trending in the United States this week, and for a sobering reason: three states — Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Alabama — are scheduled to carry out executions on the same day, August 13, 2026, with Florida set to follow on August 18. This page explains who the four condemned men are, what they were convicted of, how execution day works inside the US prison system, and where 2026 stands in the wider history of the American death penalty.
Why Capital Punishment Searches Are Trending
Interest in sentencing and capital punishment has spiked on Google in recent days as news coverage builds ahead of an unusually crowded execution calendar. Three separate states have set execution dates for August 13, 2026 — a rare convergence that has drawn national attention from press, advocacy groups, and faith organizations. Clemency campaigns for the condemned men, including a petition drive for Oklahoma’s Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez, have added to the search volume.
August 13, 2026: Three Executions in One Day
Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez — Oklahoma
Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez, 71, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester for the 2003 murder of Olimpia Fisher, who was shot in the couple’s Oklahoma City home. On July 14, 2026, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board denied clemency by a 3–1 vote, rejecting arguments from his lawyers that included claims about brain damage. Barring a last-minute court intervention, his execution will proceed as planned.
Anthony Hines — Tennessee
Tennessee intends to execute Anthony Darrell Dugard Hines on the same day for the 1985 murder of Katherine Jenkins, a housekeeper killed at a motel in Cheatham County. Hines has spent roughly four decades on death row, making his case one of the oldest active capital cases in the country. Tennessee carries out executions at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville.
Jeremy Williams — Alabama
Alabama is scheduled to execute Jeremy Williams for the 2021 murder of five-year-old Kamarie Holland, a crime that shocked the state and drew a capital conviction in 2024. Alabama executions take place at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, the state’s death row prison.
August 18, 2026: William Silvia in Florida
Five days later, Florida is set to execute William Silvia at 6:00 p.m. at Florida State Prison in Raiford. Silvia was convicted of first-degree murder for the September 22, 2006 shooting of his estranged wife, Patricia Silvia, in Casselberry, near Orlando. Governor Ron DeSantis signed the death warrant in July 2026, and Florida courts have fast-tracked his final appeals. If carried out, it would be Florida’s 13th execution of 2026 — the most of any state this year.
How Executions Work in the US Prison System
Condemned prisoners in the United States are held on death row, usually in single cells at a designated maximum-security prison, sometimes for decades while appeals run their course. In the weeks before an execution date the prisoner is typically moved to a death-watch cell near the execution chamber, placed under constant observation, and allowed final visits and a last meal. Lethal injection remains the primary method nationwide, though some states authorize alternatives such as nitrogen hypoxia and the firing squad. Our guide to life inside U.S. prisons explains how maximum-security custody differs from the general prison population, and you can use our walkthrough on how to look up prison records online to check the current status of any state or federal inmate, including those on death row.
The Death Penalty in 2026: The Bigger Picture
The United States has already carried out more than a dozen executions in 2026, continuing the sharp increase seen in 2025, and Florida again leads the nation by a wide margin. Twenty-plus states retain an active death penalty, while 23 states have abolished it and several others have governor-imposed moratoriums. Death row prisoners make up only a tiny fraction of the roughly 1.2 million people held in American prisons — see our U.S. prison population statistics page for a full breakdown of federal, state, and local jail numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many executions are scheduled for August 2026?
At least four: Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez (Oklahoma), Anthony Hines (Tennessee), and Jeremy Williams (Alabama) on August 13, followed by William Silvia (Florida) on August 18. Dates can change if courts grant stays.
Why are three executions happening on the same day?
It is coincidence rather than coordination — each state sets its own execution dates through its courts and governor’s office, and three warrants happened to land on August 13, 2026.
Can these executions still be stopped?
Yes. A court can issue a stay at any point before the sentence is carried out, and a governor (or, in Oklahoma’s case, the governor acting on a parole board recommendation) can grant clemency. Cuesta-Rodriguez was denied clemency in July 2026, which makes intervention in his case less likely.
What method of execution will be used?
Lethal injection is scheduled in these cases. Some states, including Alabama, also authorize nitrogen hypoxia, and a handful permit other methods, but lethal injection remains the default across the country.
Which state has executed the most people in 2026?
Florida. William Silvia would be the state’s 13th execution of 2026, far ahead of any other state, with Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, and others accounting for the remainder of this year’s total.