02 September 2018 :

Broward County Judge Ilona Holmes sentenced Peter Avsenew to death. Man is sentenced to death for killing gay couple, saying they 'deserved to be put down'. A Florida man, who described gay people as a "disgrace," has been given the death penalty for murdering a gay couple he met on Craigslist back in 2010. Peter Avsenew, 33, was convicted last year of murdering Kevin Adams and Steven Powell at their home in 2010. In court, the prosecution alleged that the 32-year old was found in possession of the couple's car, an SUV, adding that he had used their credit cards. The defence claimed that Avsenew stole the items after discovering that the couple were dead. Avsenew's mother turned him in to police after he arrived at her home in central Florida unexpectedly and then made suspicious comments to her. Jeanne Avsenew also testified against him in court. Avsenew sent a hand-written letter to Judge Holmes, following his conviction in 2017. 'It is my duty as a white man to cull the weak and timid from existence,' the letter read. 'Homosexuals are a disease to mankind and must be put down.' Avsenew's sister was murdered when he was 8. As a teenager, he said he was sexually abused by his stepfather.