Florida Executes Man For Setting Neighbor On Fire During 1990 Burglary
Florida executed Chadwick Scott Willacy for setting a neighbor on fire during a 1990 burglary.
The execution was carried out by a three-drug lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke on April 21, 2026. Officials said the chamber curtain rose at 6:00 p.m., the injection began at 6:02 p.m., and death was pronounced about 6:15 p.m. Willacy used his final statement to maintain his innocence and to address the victim's family and fellow death-row prisoners.
Prosecutors said Willacy strangled and bound the victim with wire and tape during the burglary before setting the person on fire, and an autopsy found the cause of death was smoke inhalation. His case included multiple appeals and resentencing; an early jury recommendation was 9-3 for death, a Florida Supreme Court-ordered resentencing occurred in 1994, and a later jury recommended death 11-1. The U.S. Supreme Court denied his final appeal without comment on the afternoon of the execution, and the Florida Supreme Court had rejected recent appeals.
The execution is Florida's fifth of 2026 and comes after a record 19 executions in 2025 under Governor Ron DeSantis, a backdrop that has drawn attention from both critics and supporters of the state's use of capital punishment.
📌 Key Facts
- Chadwick Scott Willacy was executed on April 21, 2026, by a three-drug lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke; officials pronounced him dead at 6:15 p.m. after a chamber sequence that began with the curtain rising at 6:00 p.m. and the injection starting at 6:02 p.m.
- In his final statement Willacy maintained his innocence and addressed remarks to the victim’s family and to fellow death-row prisoners.
- In the underlying 1990 burglary, Willacy attempted to strangle his neighbor, bound the victim with wire and tape, and set the residence on fire; an autopsy found the victim died from smoke inhalation.
- 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 initial jury recommendation for death of 9–3, a 1994 Florida Supreme Court‑ordered resentencing, and a later jury recommendation for death by an 11–1 vote.
- The execution was Florida’s fifth in 2026 and followed a record 19 executions in 2025 under Governor Ron DeSantis.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
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.