Robert Flor Given Execution Date of May 27, 2022 in Pennsylvania

Robert Flor, Pennsylvania

Updated: Thursday, May 26, 2022

Robert Anthony Flor was given an execution date of Friday, May 27, 2022, in Pennsylvania.  There is currently a moratorium on executions in the state. Fifty-five-year-old Robert is convicted of murdering 46-year-old Newton Police Officer Brian S. Gregg on September 29, 2005, in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Robert has spent the past 15 years on Pennsylvania’s death row.

Robert grew up in a dysfunctional home. His biological father was absent from his life and he had four step-fathers, one of whom may have sexually abused him. He began using alcohol at a young age. Robert had lost custody of his daughter shortly before his arrest.

On September 29, 2005, Robert Flor was stopped by off-duty trooper Joseph Carcaci for driving his vehicle erratically, recklessly, and at high speed. Flor was also assaulting his female passenger, who at that time was his girlfriend. Officer Brian Gregg arrived to assist the off-duty trooper. Flor was handcuffed and placed in the back of a patrol car. He was eventually taken to St. Mary Medical Center to obtain blood and urine samples because Flor smelled of alcohol. Officer James Joseph Warunek assisted Officer Gregg in transporting Flor to the medical center. Flor was calm and cooperative with police and medical technicians while obtaining samples.

Flor’s handcuffs were removed to allow him to provide a urine sample. As Officer Warunek started to replace the handcuffs, Flor grabbed his gun and shot Officer Warunke in the chest. Flor then shot Officer Gregg, who was running to assist, in the abdomen. Also shot was emergency medical technician Joseph Epp. Flor then approached Officer Gregg and shot him twice in the head. Flor returned to Officer Warunek and attempted to shoot him in the head, but the gun had run out of bullets. During the shooting, Flor managed to obtain a gunshot wound to his hand. He fled the scene, leaving a trail of blood. Police found him a short time later. Flor was uncooperative and verbally abusive towards the police and hospital staff after he was re-apprehended.

Officer Gregg died almost immediately from the gunshots to his head. Officer Warunek had surgery to remove the bullet and survived. Joseph Epp also survived his wound, although he required several surgeries to repair extensive damage.

Robert Flor claimed that he was mentally incompetent at the time of the crime and that his mental health should prevent him from being executed.

This is not Robert’s first execution date. His two previous execution dates were stayed to allow time for him to complete his appeals. His execution is unlikely to be carried out, as Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced a moratorium on executions in the state on Friday, February 13, 2015. Before resuming executions, Governor Wolf wanted a report on capital punishment in the state, which was ordered in 2011, to be completed. The report was completed in June 2018, and upon review, Governor Wolf maintained the moratorium, stating that the report, which highlighted several flaws in the capital punishment system, supports his decision.  Read more about the announcement here.  

Please pray for peace and healing for the family of Brian Gregg. Please pray for peace and healing for James Warunek and Joseph Epp. Pray for the family of Robert Flor. Pray that if Robert is innocent, mentally incompetent, or should not be executed for any other reason, that evidence will be provided before his execution. Please pray that Robert may come to find peace through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

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