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Florida Governor DeSantis Withdraws Death Warrant for Inmate William Lee Thompson
Just the facts
Governor Ron DeSantis signed an order halting the scheduled lethal injection of William Lee Thompson, who was convicted of the 1976 murder of Sally Ivester. Thompson's legal defense team previously submitted appeals stating that the inmate suffers from advanced dementia and does not meet the legal threshold of competency required for capital punishment. The governor had issued a temporary stay in September 2026 to permit a state psychiatric evaluation, but state officials did not publish the findings or provide an official rationale for the warrant's withdrawal. Thompson will remain incarcerated on Florida's death row, while a second execution scheduled for inmate James Robertson remains slated to proceed as planned.
Why this is news
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive letter withdrawing the death warrant for 74-year-old death row inmate William Lee Thompson days before his scheduled lethal injection. The decision marks the first time Governor DeSantis has rescinded an active death warrant during his tenure.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.