Florida death row inmate spared execution due to dementia

Summarised from New York Post's report · Updated 9 Oct, 12:55 · Archive

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has withdrawn the death warrant for William Thompson, a 74-year-old inmate, five days before his scheduled execution.

William Thompson, a 74-year-old inmate and one of Florida's longest-serving death row inmates, has been spared from execution. Governor Ron DeSantis withdrew Thompson's death warrant on Thursday, just five days before his scheduled execution. DeSantis did not explain his decision in a letter to Florida State Prison Warden Randall Polk, though the New York Post reports Thompson is suffering from dementia.

Thompson's attorney Brittney Lacy submitted an emergency petition on 16 September, requesting that the Department of Corrections send Thompson to hospital for emergent medical care. According to court documents reviewed by the Post, Thompson could not provide details about his hospital stays and appeared unaware when questioned by doctors about his surgeries. The Eighth Amendment prohibits executing death row inmates with mental illnesses that prevent them from understanding why they are being executed.

Thompson was first sentenced to death in 1976 for what police called Miami-Dade's 'meanest murder'. His sentence was overturned and reimposed, and he was spared execution twice in the 1980s before being returned to death row in 1989.

Read the report

• Florida death row inmate William Thompson spared from execution, 50 years after torture murderOne of Florida’s longest-serving death row inmates has been spared from execution amid reports he is suffering from dementia – 50 years after he was convicted of a torture murder. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis withdrew William Thompson’s death warrant on Thursday – just five days before the 74-year-old killer’s scheduled execution for what cops at...New York Post · 9 Oct, 09:15

In this story: William Thompson · Ron DeSantis · Brittney Lacy · Florida · Miami-Dade

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