Politics · October 9, 2026
DeSantis withdraws death warrant for first time, calling off execution
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Governor Ron DeSantis has withdrawn the death warrant for 74-year-old William Lee Thompson, marking the first time in his nearly eight-year tenure that he has cancelled a scheduled execution. While no official reason was provided for the withdrawal, Thompson’s attorneys had previously cited his diagnosis of dementia as grounds for incompetence. The decision follows recent national attention on capital punishment, including a failed execution attempt in Tennessee and a separate scheduled execution in Florida where the inmate has waived his appeals.
Governor Ron DeSantis has withdrawn the death warrant for 74-year-old William Lee Thompson, marking the first time in his nearly eight-year tenure that he has cancelled a scheduled execution. While no official reason was provided for the withdrawal, Thompson’s attorneys had previously cited his diagnosis of dementia as grounds for incompetence. The decision follows recent national attention on capital punishment, including a failed execution attempt in Tennessee and a separate scheduled execution in Florida where the inmate has waived his appeals.