Last week we wrote about Aileen Wuornos, age 44. She is one of the nation's first known female serial killers. Wuornos was convicted of fatally shooting six middle-aged men along Florida highways in 1989 and 1990. Her story has been portrayed in two movies, three books and an opera. She is now on death row in Florida, and until today was scheduled to be executed on October 9.

Florida Governor Jeb Bush granted Wuormos a stay of execution Monday due to issues surrounding her mental competency.

Wuernos wants to die. In April she received permission from the Court to drop her appeals and fire her lawyers. Bush granted a similar stay for Rigoberto Sanchez-Velasco, who was scheduled to die Wednesday.

Three psychiatrists will examine both inmates. Under Florida law, an inmate cannot be executed unless they understand both that execution results in death and why they have been sentenced to death. If they are judged mentally competent, the executions will be re-scheduled.

Governor Bush has said that he believed Ms. Wuornos was competent when he signed her death warrant less than a month ago. We commend him for taking this action so that experts can make that determination.

Update: Ms. Wuornos has been found competent and her execution is back on.