12:42 p.m. STARKE—Pulling into town, the signal on country radio station WTRS 102.3 FM began to fade.
I’d been listening to the request hour since before Gainesville and was impressed with the selection. Some Johnny Cash, some old tunes from the ‘70s and ‘80s and no Shania, Kenny Chesney or other newbies.
Just before hitting the hotel parking lot, a woman called the station with a special request. She asked if the DJ could find something to say farewell to Danny Rolling “that SOB.”
The DJ couldn’t come up with anything to express her emotions on the subject, so she said she had to make due. She played a new hit called “If You’re Going Through Hell” and asked listeners to alter the lyrics to “As You’re Going to Hell Danny Rolling.”
As I lost the radio signal, and the song faded into static, I wondered how many people in this state felt the same way about Rolling. Most probably.
In my 12 year career as a journalist, I’ve covered quite a few executions. I witnessed the first lethal injection in the state of Georgia. Today marks the first execution I’ve worked in Florida and probably the most well known killer out of all the executions I’ve written about.
Odds are I won’t witness Rolling’s death. Prison officials save a few seats for reporters and they pick names on a lottery system. As of this morning, I remain the first alternate. Should someone bow out, I’m next in line for a seat—not likely considering the significance of this case.

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