Florida execution called off after DeSantis withdraws death warrant for first time
Also reported by The Hill
Summary
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis withdrew a death warrant for William Lee Thompson, stopping his execution scheduled for next week. This is the first time DeSantis has canceled an execution during his nearly eight years as governor, with no official reason given.Key Facts
- Governor DeSantis canceled the execution of William Lee Thompson, 74, who was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection.
- This is the first time DeSantis has withdrawn a death warrant while in office.
- Thompson was convicted for murder and kidnapping in 1976.
- Lawyers said Thompson has dementia and is mentally unfit for execution.
- DeSantis had previously paused the execution for a psychiatric evaluation but did not share the results.
- Another Florida execution is still planned for James Robertson, who waived his appeals.
- Florida executed 19 people last year, the highest number since 1976.
- Recent events, including a botched execution in Tennessee and a planned Pentagon livestream of an execution, have increased attention on executions in the US.
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