Florida Executes Man For Setting Neighbor On Fire During 1990 Burglary
Florida executed Chadwick Scott Willacy for setting his neighbor on fire during a 1990 burglary. The execution occurred at Florida State Prison near Starke on April 21, 2026. Officials used a three-drug lethal injection, pronouncing Willacy dead at 6:15 p.m.
Inside the execution chamber, officials raised the curtain at 6:00 p.m., began injections at 6:02 and checked responsiveness before declaring death. Willacy used his final statement to maintain his innocence and to address the victim's family and fellow death-row prisoners. Prosecutors said he attempted to strangle the 30-year-old victim, bound her with wire and tape, then set her on fire; the autopsy ruled smoke inhalation the cause of death. His case drew years of litigation after an initial 9-3 jury recommendation for death, a 1994 Florida Supreme Court-ordered resentencing and a later 11-1 jury recommendation for death, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied a final appeal on the afternoon of the execution.
Willacy was Florida's fifth execution in 2026, following a record 19 executions in 2025 under Governor Ron DeSantis. Observers on both sides of the capital-punishment debate often point to long, contested legal histories like this one when discussing finality and fairness in death-penalty cases.
📌 Key Facts
- Florida executed Chadwick Scott Willacy by three-drug lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke on April 21, 2026; officials pronounced him dead at about 6:15 p.m. after the chamber curtain rose at 6:00 p.m. and the injection began at 6:02 p.m.
- Willacy was convicted of setting his neighbor on fire during a 1990 burglary; during the attack he attempted to strangle the victim, bound the victim with wire and tape, and the autopsy found the victim died of smoke inhalation.
- In his final statement Willacy maintained his innocence and addressed remarks to the victim’s family and to fellow death-row prisoners.
- The U.S. Supreme Court denied Willacy’s final appeal without comment on the afternoon of the execution, and the Florida Supreme Court had also rejected recent appeals.
- Willacy’s sentencing history included an original 9-3 jury recommendation for death, a 1994 Florida Supreme Court-ordered resentencing, and a later resentencing jury recommendation for death by an 11-1 vote.
- The execution was Florida’s fifth in 2026 and follows the state’s record 19 executions in 2025 under Governor Ron DeSantis.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms that Florida executed Chadwick Scott Willacy by three-drug lethal injection at 6:15 p.m. on April 21, 2026, at Florida State Prison near Starke.
- Reports Willacy’s final statement, including his maintained claim of innocence and his remarks to the victim’s family and fellow death-row prisoners.
- Details the sequence inside the chamber, including the curtain rising at 6:00 p.m., injection starting at 6:02 p.m., and officials checking responsiveness before pronouncing death.
- Recounts specific facts of the underlying 1990 crime, including the attempted strangulation, binding with wire and tape, and autopsy finding that the victim died from smoke inhalation.
- Notes this is Florida's fifth execution in 2026 and places it in context of the state’s record 19 executions in 2025 under Governor Ron DeSantis.
- States that the U.S. Supreme Court denied Willacy's final appeal without comment on the afternoon of the execution; the Florida Supreme Court had also rejected recent appeals.
- Summarizes prior sentencing history, including the original 9-3 death recommendation, the 1994 Florida Supreme Court-ordered resentencing, and the later 11-1 jury recommendation for death.