Conviction and Execution of Chadwick Scott Willacy

Chadwick Scott Willacy faced execution in Florida on Tuesday after being convicted of first-degree murder for a crime committed in 1990. He had set fire to the home of his elderly neighbor, Marlis Saser, after discovering her breaking into his house. Until just before his execution, Willacy continued to assert his innocence.

“To the families of the victims, I hope this brings some peace,” he said in a statement, as reported by the Associated Press. “But this is not correct.” The 58-year-old was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. following a lethal injection sequence involving three different drugs.

Willacy’s conviction dates back to 1991 for the murder of 56-year-old Saser. According to court documents, the brutal crime unfolded on September 5, 1990, when Saser returned home from work to find Willacy burglarizing her property. He attacked her, binding her hands and feet with tape and wire, and then strangled her with a cord.

After the murder, Willacy reportedly stole her ATM card and vehicle to withdraw money. Disturbingly, upon returning, he disabled her smoke detector, soaked her with gasoline, and set her on fire. The autopsy indicated that Saser had died from smoke inhalation, suggesting she was still alive during the fire.

The family of the victim expressed their feelings about the lengthy wait for justice, stating, “We have waited 36 and a half years for justice for our mother. The pain was unbearable,” especially as they had recently lost her husband to cancer.

Although Willacy maintained he never meant to kill Saser, he showed remorse toward his family. On the day of his execution, he advised others in similar situations to stay strong. The lethal injection included a cocktail that is standard for such cases in Florida, involving an anesthetic, a paralytic, and potassium acetate to stop the heart.

Willacy’s connection to the crime was established through forensic evidence, including fingerprints found on items related to the murder, and witness reports placing him at the scene. His conviction included charges of first-degree murder, burglary, and arson, initially receiving a death sentence in 1991. After a series of legal challenges, including a new jury recommendation in 1995, he was once again sentenced to death.

Marlies Mae Saser was described by her family as a loving individual who deeply impacted their lives. “She was a new widow trying to make the most of every day,” they noted, highlighting the lasting void her absence has created.

This marked the fifth execution in Florida this year and the ninth in the United States overall, following a record-setting 19 executions in Florida in 2025.