A long-time inmate on Florida’s death row has had his execution postponed, reportedly due to dementia that has emerged after 50 years since his conviction for a murder that involved extreme brutality.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis retracted William Thompson’s death warrant on Thursday, just five days ahead of the execution that was set for this 74-year-old. This particular murder was once characterized by the police as the “meanest murder” in Miami-Dade.
The governor didn’t specify his reasons for withdrawing the warrant in a letter sent to the warden of Florida State Prison, which has been reviewed by various sources. Notably, DeSantis had only signed the death warrant recently, on September 11.
Reports highlight that Thompson, who has the distinction of being the longest-serving inmate on death row in Miami-Dade, is now dealing with dementia.
His journey onto death row began in 1976, but he has seen his sentence overturned, reimposed, and even been granted reprieves from execution multiple times during the 1980s. Since 1989, he has remained on death row.
The Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects inmates who suffer from mental illnesses, particularly if these conditions prevent them from comprehending the reasons for their execution.
Thompson’s attorney, Brittney Lacy, has implored officials from the Florida Department of Corrections to provide urgent medical care, asserting that Thompson’s health was in dire need of immediate attention, as indicated in a court petition filed on September 16.
Lacy expressed concern that Thompson was unable to recall details about his hospital visits, indicating he seemed quite disoriented. When questioned by doctors about previous surgeries, he reportedly did not understand what was being asked of him.
Dr. Robert Ouaou, a neuropsychologist, evaluated Thompson and determined that he indeed satisfies the criteria for insanity owing to his dementia and notable cognitive decline.
The doctor assessed that Thompson lacks the mental ability to comprehend both the reality of his impending execution and the rationale behind it.
Additionally, during the assessment, Thompson mentioned experiencing severe pain and indicated a significant lack of strength, stating he was “too weak to freely move” parts of his body, according to Lacy’s account.
Previously, Thompson had spent time in hospitals across Tallahassee, Jacksonville, and Gainesville, where it was noted that he has a considerable “knowledge deficit.” For instance, he supposedly did not even know the identity of the current president, mistakenly naming “Bush.” It was unclear which President Bush he meant.
Thompson’s attorneys noted he struggled to remember basic details about his medical care or conversations he had with others.
Originally convicted for the murder of Sally Ivester in 1976, Thompson, along with an accomplice named Rocco Surace, committed the crime at a motel in Miami Beach. The incident unfolded with Ivester being demanded to hand over $200, but she only managed to produce $25.
This minor amount incited a violent reaction; the pair assaulted Ivester with chains and furiously burned her with cigarettes. Horrifically, they made her call her mother to ask for more money before escalating the violence further.
The brutality of the murder led local law enforcement to label it as “Dade’s meanest murder,” as reported by various outlets.
Ultimately, Ivester succumbed to shock and the grave internal injuries inflicted upon her.
While Surace had initially admitted guilt to several charges, including kidnapping, rape, and murder, his sentence was later overturned by the Supreme Court. He was recommitted to prison for a murder charge, where he died in 1993 while incarcerated.
Thompson’s death sentence was not immediately carried out; it was first overturned and then stayed twice during the 1980s. He returned to death row in 1989, remaining there until this latest development.
Grace Hanna, the executive director of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, welcomed the governor’s decision, stating, “Withdrawing the death warrant for William Thompson was the correct decision. Mr. Thompson is gravely ill, not competent, and intellectually disabled. His execution would have been an abject violation of the Eighth Amendment and an affront to human dignity.”
