Death Penalty

Florida executed Chadwick Scott Willacy on April 21, 2026, for setting his neighbor on fire during a 1990 burglary. State officials carried out the three-drug lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke and pronounced Willacy dead at 6:15 p.m. Officials said the curtain rose at 6:00 p.m., injections began at 6:02 p.m., and staff checked responsiveness before the death pronouncement. Willacy used his final statement to maintain his innocence, apologize to the victim's family and offer remarks to fellow death-row prisoners. The U.S. Supreme Court denied his final appeal that afternoon without comment, and Florida's high court had rejected earlier appeals.

Florida has set May 21 as the execution date for Richard Knight, convicted in a 2000 double murder that included a small child. Knight was convicted for the 2000 killings after a trial and has remained on death row since. Florida authorities set the date for May 21 and court paperwork reflects pending appeals.