A convicted murderer who had been on death row for over 36 years was executed today after setting his neighbor on fire in a brutal attack. Chadwick Scott Willacy, facing a three-drug injection, was found guilty of first-degree murder, burglary, robbery, and arson for the heinous crime committed against Marlys Sather in Starke, Florida.
Before his execution, Willacy expressed his apologies to his family and friends and encouraged fellow inmates on death row to remain resilient. Despite claiming his innocence and denying the murder, he offered a quasi-apology to the victim’s family, expressing his desire for their peace but questioning the justice of his sentence.
The execution marked the fifth in Florida this year, including that of Michael Lee King, who had also spent decades on death row for a brutal crime. Both offenders faced extended waits for their executions, with Willacy’s case dating back to the tragic incident involving Ms. Sather in Palm Bay, Florida.
During the attack, Willacy assaulted Ms. Sather, bound her, and set her on fire, resulting in her death from smoke inhalation. He proceeded to steal her belongings and use her ATM card to withdraw money before being apprehended and sentenced to death following a jury’s decision.
Florida witnessed a surge in executions, with a record 19 carried out the previous year under Governor Ron DeSantis. The upcoming execution of James Ernest Hitchcock, convicted of killing his 13-year-old niece, is scheduled for later this month, continuing the state’s enforcement of capital punishment.