At 6:00 PM on Tuesday, a man who had killed two people was executed in California State Prison.
His name was Michael Tanzi, a 48-year-old man who, just before his death, made a last-ditch attempt to avoid execution. His excuse was rather absurd…
Tanzi’s legal team had made several appeals for him, with the most recent one happening just over a month ago. On March 24, Tanzi’s lawyers submitted a brief claiming that he was severely obese and suffering from sciatica, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. 
Just last week, his lawyers petitioned the court to cancel his lethal injection, claiming that Tanzi weighed 380 pounds (172.37 kilograms) and was too overweight for the injection, which would cause him excessive pain.
The Lethal Injection Process
In California, the lethal injection involves three drugs: a sedative, an anesthetic, and a heart-stopping agent. Tanzi’s lawyers argued that because of his extreme weight, these drugs could cause him “severe complications and unnecessary suffering.” They feared that he might not be fully sedated, leaving him paralyzed yet conscious, with a sensation of burning throughout his body.
However, just a few hours before the execution, their request was rejected. The court stated that Tanzi’s health issues had been known since 2009, making his appeal untimely.
What Tanzi failed to mention was the immense pain he caused to his victims and their families.
The Victim: Janet Acosta
Janet Acosta, a 49-year-old woman, was one of Tanzi’s victims. She had worked for 25 years at The Miami Herald and was well-liked by her colleagues. On April 25, 2000, Janet had just finished work and was eating lunch in her car when Tanzi approached her, asked for a cigarette, and then attacked her.
Tanzi threatened her with a razor blade, telling her that if she made any noise, he would slice her ears. He then forced her into her car and drove her from Miami to Homestead, about an hour away. There, he sexually assaulted her, stole $53 and her bank cards, and then drove to a secluded area where he taped her mouth shut, strangled her, and dumped her body in the woods.
The Aftermath
After the murder, Tanzi used Janet’s bank card to steal money in Key West, Florida. When Janet went missing, a friend reported it to the police. Later, they discovered her car and traced it back to Tanzi. During the interrogation, Tanzi admitted to the crime and revealed where he had disposed of her body.
In his confession, Tanzi arrogantly told the police, “If I had let her go, I would’ve been caught soon.” He continued, “I didn’t want to get caught because I was having too much fun.”
Tanzi later confessed to another murder months prior, in Brockton, Massachusetts.
Tanzi was charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, and two counts of sexual assault using a deadly weapon. He was sentenced to death. A Miami detective described Tanzi as “a fledgling serial killer.”
Tanzi appealed his conviction in 2005, but in 2007, the court upheld the original verdict. He submitted numerous requests for reconsideration, but all were denied. Finally, after taking two lives, Tanzi faced the ultimate penalty: death.
The Last Meal and Execution
Before his execution, Tanzi requested a hearty meal, which was granted by the prison. He was given pork chops, bacon, roasted potatoes, corn, soda, ice cream, and a candy bar.
Some of the victims’ family members attended the execution. When Tanzi gave his final words, he expressed a slight regret. He softly said, “I want to apologize to their family,” before reciting a Bible verse.
Tanzi was then administered the lethal injection. He gasped for three minutes before his breathing ceased at 6:12 PM. A prison guard shook his shoulder and loudly called his name twice to confirm his death.
Justice for Janet
Janet Acosta’s sister, who witnessed Tanzi’s execution, said, “He’s finally been executed, and Janet got justice. My heart is lighter now; I can breathe again.”
Janet’s niece added that it took them 25 years to see this moment. “This is the result of our 20-year effort to seek justice for her…”
