Jesse Guardado Obituary: Florida Executes 64-Year-Old Convicted of Jackie Malone’s 2004 Murder

Jesse Guardado, 64, was executed by lethal injection in Florida on November 5, 2026, for the 2004 murder of 75-year-old Jackie Malone in Walton County.

Jesse Guardado, the Florida man sentenced to death for the 2004 murder of Jackie Malone, was executed at Florida State Prison on November 5, 2026. He was 64.

The Florida Department of Corrections confirmed that the execution was carried out at 6:13 p.m. Eastern Time. Guardado’s death marked Florida’s 19th execution of 2026, matching the state’s modern-era annual record set in 2025.

Guardado’s execution brought a long-running criminal case to its conclusion more than 22 years after Malone was killed in her Walton County home. The case drew attention because Malone had previously helped Guardado with housing and employment after his release from prison.

The 2004 Murder of Jackie Malone

Court records state that on September 13, 2004, Guardado went to Malone’s home after an earlier attempted robbery at a grocery store had failed. He was seeking money and had armed himself with a metal breaker bar and a kitchen knife.

Malone, who was 75, had previously provided Guardado with assistance, including a place to stay and help finding work. According to the Florida Supreme Court’s account, he attacked her inside her home and stole several belongings, including her purse, jewelry box, briefcase and cellphone.

Guardado pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and armed robbery in October 2004. He was sentenced to death in October 2005, and the Florida Supreme Court upheld his conviction and sentence in 2007.

Appeals Before the Execution

Guardado continued to challenge aspects of his death sentence through the courts. In October 2026, the Florida Supreme Court rejected a successive post-conviction appeal and denied his request for a stay of execution. The execution proceeded on the date set by the state.

Florida’s 2026 Execution Record

Guardado’s execution was Florida’s 19th in 2026, tying the modern-era record established in 2025. The milestone reflects the number of executions carried out by the state during the year; it does not alter the circumstances of Malone’s murder or the legal findings in Guardado’s case.

Jesse Guardado Obituary and Execution Details

• Name: Jesse Guardado

• Age: 64

• Execution date: November 5, 2026

• Execution location: Florida State Prison, Florida

• Cause of death: Execution by lethal injection, carried out by the State of Florida

• Victim: Jackie Malone, 75

• Underlying crime: First-degree murder and armed robbery in Walton County, Florida, in September 2004

• Funeral arrangements: No verified public information about burial or memorial arrangements was identified.

Disclaimer

This article is based on Florida Department of Corrections announcements, Florida Supreme Court records and published reporting. The execution time and legal history are supported by official records. The description of the 2004 crime reflects the court’s account of the evidence and proceedings. No funeral or burial information has been independently confirmed.