Florida execution called off after DeSantis withdraws death warrant for first time
Governor halts execution of William Lee Thompson, after Christa Pike survived failed lethal injections
TL;DR
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis withdrew the death warrant for William Lee Thompson, 74.
- This is the first time DeSantis has cancelled an execution in his nearly eight years as governor.
- Thompson was scheduled for execution for a 1976 murder and kidnapping.
- Thompson's lawyers stated he suffers from dementia and is incompetent for execution.
- The withdrawal comes after the botched execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee and the Pentagon's plan to livestream an execution.
- Florida carried out a record 19 executions last year.