Florida to Conduct 18th Execution of the Year

Florida is scheduled on Tuesday to carry out its 18th execution in 2026, moving the state closer to tying its record for executions in a year. The execution, sanctioned under Republican Governor Ron DeSantis' robust application of capital punishment during his final term, brings renewed attention to Florida’s position leading the nation in executions.

Details of the William Reaves Case

The individual scheduled for execution is William Reaves, a 77-year-old who was sentenced to death following his conviction for the first-degree murder of Indian River County Deputy Richard Raczkowski in 1986. Reaves would become the eighth Florida prisoner over 70 years old to be executed in 2026, highlighting the aging demographic on death row in the United States and distinguishing Florida from other states concerning capital punishment.

Events Leading to the Conviction

According to court records, the incident occurred in September 1986, when Deputy Raczkowski responded to a 911 call at a convenience store in Vero Beach. Reaves, who later admitted making the call, dropped a firearm from his shorts during the encounter. A struggle ensued over the weapon, and Reaves ultimately regained control. Investigators reported that as Raczkowski attempted to flee, Reaves shot him four times. The deputy subsequently died from his wounds. Reaves was first convicted and sentenced to death about a year after the shooting, but due to a conflict of interest involving the prosecutor, the Florida Supreme Court ordered a new trial. In 1992, Reaves was again convicted and sentenced to death.

Legal Appeals and Lethal Injection Protocol

Reaves’ most recent appeals, which included challenges to Florida’s lethal injection protocol and the consideration of his military service-related PTSD, were rejected by the Florida Supreme Court last week. His legal team argued that jurors were not informed that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs had rated Reaves, an Army veteran, as 100% disabled due to post-traumatic stress disorder from his Vietnam War service. Over 100 veterans petitioned Governor DeSantis to halt the execution, but the U.S. Supreme Court denied Reaves’ final appeal shortly before the scheduled execution time.

The state’s method involves a three-drug injection: a sedative, a paralytic, and a heart-stopping agent. This contrasts with single-drug protocols adopted in other states, such as Tennessee, where recent complications have brought national scrutiny to lethal injection procedures.

Aggressive Use of Capital Punishment Under DeSantis

Florida executed 19 individuals in 2025, setting a state record. With another execution scheduled for November, the state could tie that record if scheduled executions proceed as planned. Governor Ron DeSantis, who completes his term in January, has emphasized the importance of delivering justice to victims’ families in cases that have awaited resolution for decades.

Florida's National Position on Executions

Nationwide in 2025, there were 47 executions, with Florida accounting for more than half of the 31 executions so far this year. In July 2026, Florida became the first state in nearly a decade to execute two prisoners in one day. The next execution scheduled in Florida is Jesse Guardado, 64, convicted for a robbery and murder in 2004, set for November 5.

Source: clickorlando.com.