After Florida Execution of Man Who Killed Neighbor in Burglary, Warden Performs Final Step to Confirm Death

A Florida man who was charged with killing his neighbor during a burglary in 1990 was executed on the evening of April 21 at a state prison near Starke, Florida. Chadwick Scott Willacy, 58, was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. after receiving a three-drug lethal injection. The execution marked the state’s fifth execution of the year.

Moments after the drugs were administered, a warden called out his name and shook him, but there was no response. Witnesses said his skin turned gray, and a medic later declared him dead.

The process began shortly after 6 p.m. when the curtain to the death chamber opened. According to AP, the injection began two minutes later. Before it started, Willacy made a brief statement. He apologized to his family and friends and urged fellow inmates to stay strong. He also continued to argue that he was innocent.

“To the victim’s family, I hope this brings you peace. If it does, that’s good, ” Willacy said. “But this is not right.”

Willacy had been on death row for the killing of Marlys Sather, 56, in Palm Bay. Court records show Sather returned home during a lunch break on September 5, 1990, and found Willacy burglarizing her house. Investigators said he struck her with a blunt object, fracturing her skull. He then tied her hands and ankles with wire and tape.

Authorities said Willacy tried to strangle her with a phone cord. When that failed, he poured gasoline on her and set her on fire. An autopsy later showed that Sather died from smoke inhalation, indicating that she was alive when the fire started.

After the attack, Willacy stole her car and used her ATM card to withdraw cash. When Sather did not return to work, her employer altered her family. Her son-in-law later found her body.

Willacy was first sentenced to death in 1991. A court later ordered a new sentencing hearing, but a second jury again recommended death in 1995.

Earlier on April 21, the U.S. Supreme Court denied his final appeal. The Florida Supreme Court had rejected earlier claims. Willacy had argued the state failed to release records about executions.

Sather’s family has not spoken publicly after the execution but released a statement.

It read: “We have waited 36.5 years for justice for our mom. Our mother, Marlys Mae Sather should be remembered as a beautiful and loving daughter, wife, mother of 3, grandmother of 5, great grandmother of 5, aunt, cousin and friend.” It also mentioned that the victim had lost her husband to cancer “just weeks before she was murdered.” She was a new widow trying to take one day at a time,” it said. “We miss her so much every day.”

As per reports, Florida carried out more executions last year than any other state, with 19 executions.