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Daniel Conahan Jr., 72, was sentenced to death for the April
1996 killing of Richard Montgomery. The victim was found in a
wooded area in Charlotte County, Florida, which was described as
what appeared to be a dumping area that contained a lot of
trash.
Authorities said Conahan killed Montgomery after paying him to
pose f or nude photos. Authorities suspect him of similar
homicides committed in the 1990s in southwest Florida.
Conahan has denied his involvement in Montgomery's murder. The
petition said he has been requesting DNA testing since March
2025 of evidence collected at the scene and from Montgomery’s
body to “conclusively establish that he is not responsible for
the death.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed his death warrant Aug. 11 while his
motion for DNA testing was pending, the petition for the stay
says. Within 24 hours of that warrant being signed the state
postconviction court denied the motion.
“Mr. Conahan does not ask to be declared innocent at this
posture. Nor does he ask to be released from prison. All he asks
is for this Court to stay his imminent execution so that this
Court can review his meritorious claims,” the filing says.
Florida has executed 14 people this year.
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