Cuban immigrant executed for 1995 murder of Florida boy

Don Ryce, father of murdered nine-year-old Jimmy Ryce, watches as his son Tim (R) speaks with reporters outside Florida State Prison following the execution of Juan Carlos Chavez in Starke, Florida February 12, 2014. Photo: Reuters

Tallahassee, Florida: A Cuban immigrant was executed by lethal injection on Wednesday for the 1995 kidnapping, rape and murder of a 9-year-old south Florida boy, a spokeswoman for the governor said.

Juan Carlos Chavez, who confessed to the murder of Jimmy Ryce, was executed at the Florida State Prison at Starke, Florida, at 8:17 p.m. EST (0117 GMT Thursday), said Jackie Schutz, a spokeswoman for Governor Rick Scott.