Florida Executes Man Who Set Neighbor on Fire

A man in Florida who attacked and killed his neighbor after being caught breaking into her home was put to death Tuesday evening. Chadwick Scott Willacy, 58, was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke and was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. The execution marked the fifth carried out in the state this year.

The procedure began shortly after 6:00 p.m., following a brief final statement from Willacy. In his remarks, he expressed apologies to his family and friends and encouraged other death row inmates to remain strong. He continued to assert that he was innocent, saying he would never have harmed the victim, whom he described as a friend. Addressing her family, he said he hoped the execution would bring them peace, though he insisted it was unjust.

Moments after the drugs were administered, a prison official attempted to rouse Willacy by calling his name and shaking him, but he did not respond. Witnesses reported that his complexion turned gray before a medical professional entered and confirmed his death.

The crime dates back to September 5, 1990, when Marlys Sather, 56, returned to her Palm Bay home during a lunch break and discovered Willacy inside committing a burglary. The two were acquainted, as he had previously done yard work for her. Investigators said he struck her with a blunt object, causing a fatal skull injury, then restrained her with wire and tape. When attempts to strangle her with a telephone cord failed, he poured gasoline on her and set her on fire. An autopsy later showed she died from smoke inhalation, meaning she was still alive when the fire was set.

Authorities also said Willacy took Sather’s car, along with other belongings, and used her bank card to withdraw cash. Concern arose when she did not return to work, prompting her employer to contact family members. Her son-in-law went to the house and discovered her body.

Willacy was convicted of first-degree murder, burglary, robbery, and arson, and was initially sentenced to death in 1991 after a 9–3 jury recommendation. However, the Florida Supreme Court later ordered a new sentencing hearing due to a procedural issue involving jury selection. In 1995, a new jury recommended the death penalty again by an 11–1 vote.

In the days leading up to the execution, both state and federal courts rejected his final appeals. Earlier on Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene without comment.

Family members of Sather said they had waited more than three decades for justice. They described her as a devoted mother, grandmother, and friend, noting that she had lost her husband to cancer just weeks before her death. Her son stated before the execution that he wanted to personally witness confirmation of Willacy’s death, saying it was important to see justice carried out for his mother.

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