DeSantis withdraws death warrant for elderly inmate days before execution

Governor Ron DeSantis has withdrawn the death warrant for 74-year-old inmate William Lee Thompson, who was scheduled for execution on October 13 for the 1976 murder and kidnapping of Sally Ivester. This marks the first time DeSantis has withdrawn a warrant in his eight-year tenure. The decision follows a temporary stay for a psychiatric evaluation after defense attorneys argued Thompson suffers from dementia and failing health. While the warrant was revoked, Thompson remains on death row, and a second execution scheduled for the same day is still set to proceed.

Governor Ron DeSantis has withdrawn the death warrant for 74-year-old inmate William Lee Thompson, who was scheduled for execution on October 13 for the 1976 murder and kidnapping of Sally Ivester. This marks the first time DeSantis has withdrawn a warrant in his eight-year tenure. The decision follows a temporary stay for a psychiatric evaluation after defense attorneys argued Thompson suffers from dementia and failing health. While the warrant was revoked, Thompson remains on death row, and a second execution scheduled for the same day is still set to proceed.