Victim's Brother Says Execution Is Only Next Chapter

MIAMI -- The brother of Manny Taboada, one of five students murdered at the University of Florida in 1990, said that Wednesday's scheduled execution of convicted serial killer Danny Rolling will not bring closure -- it is simply the next chapter.

Mario Taboada and his mother are going to Starke for the execution, but Mario told WPLG-TV's Jeff Weinsier that he doesn't want to witness the man who killed his brother die.

"(I) didn't want to subject myself to anything he might say -- whether it be something cynical, sarcastic or remorse for what he did. I wasn't interested," Taboada said.

It was 16 years ago that Mario Taboada's brother, who was an American High School graduate, was killed -- stabbed to death by Rolling. Rolling also raped and killed three women and mutilated their bodies. One of those women, Christa Hoyt, was decapitated and her nipples were cut off her body.

Diana Hoyt, Christa's mother, plans to watch the execution. Mario Taboada and his mother plan to be outside the Florida State Prison when Rolling is put to death.

Taboada said that he thought long and hard and couldn't find a reason to witness the execution.

"The only thing is that when we refer to this individual, we will refer to him in the past tense, like my brother. To me, that's equal and just seems righteous," he said.

Weinsier asked, "Do you wonder what it would be like if Manny was here today?"

Taboada said, "Without a doubt. He would have been 40 years old this year."

"To this day, 16 years later, there will be someone who will walk up to me somewhere who recognizes my last name and says, 'I know Manny. I met Manny,' and for that instance he's alive again," Taboada added. "They will tell me a story. And it's how I can still learn about my brother -- 16 years later."

The U.S. Supreme Court is now Rolling's only chance, but it has turned him down in the past. Rolling's lawyer said that it doesn't look good for his client.

All of the families and investigators and state attorneys who worked on the case will be getting together for lunch and then heading to the prison together on a bus.

Manny Taboada's uncle will witness the execution.