Florida Executes 77-Year-Old Vietnam Veteran in 18th Capital Punishment of 2026

Key points

• William Reaves, 77, was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke following a three-drug lethal injection.
• Reaves was convicted of first-degree murder for the 1986 shooting of Deputy Richard Raczkowski, who responded to a 911 call at a Vero Beach convenience store.
• The Florida Supreme Court overturned Reaves' initial 1987 conviction due to a prosecutor conflict of interest, leading to a second trial and death sentence in 1992.
• The US Supreme Court rejected Reaves' final appeal without comment on October 20, 2026.
• Florida has carried out more than half of the 32 total US executions so far in 2026, including a rare double execution in July.
• Reaves was the eighth Florida prisoner over age 70 executed this year, highlighting the aging death-row population.

Background

Florida has significantly increased its execution rate under Governor Ron DeSantis, who issued a record 19 death warrants in 2025, accounting for nearly half of all US executions that year. DeSantis has stated his goal is to deliver justice to victims' families who have waited decades for sentences to be carried out. The state's aggressive use of the death penalty has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and veterans' groups. In 2025, Florida set a state record with 19 executions, and the current pace in 2026 is on track to tie that record. The state's three-drug lethal injection protocol differs from the single-drug method used in states like Tennessee, where a botched execution of Christa Pike occurred last month.

How outlets are covering it

The Guardian and Fox News emphasize the procedural details of the execution and the legal challenges, including the US Supreme Court's rejection of Reaves' appeal and the Florida Supreme Court's prior rejection of his state appeals. USA Today provides a more detailed account of the crime, including Reaves' admission that he was 'wired on cocaine' and his statement that 'one of us got to go.' USA Today also highlights the veterans' letter to DeSantis, arguing that Reaves' PTSD from Vietnam War service should have been considered by jurors. Fox 13 Tampa Bay focuses on the broader context of Florida's execution rate and the upcoming execution of Jesse Guardado. All sources agree on the basic facts of the execution and the crime, but differ in emphasis, with USA Today providing more background on Reaves' military service and the veterans' objections, while the Guardian and Fox News focus more on the legal and procedural aspects.

Why it matters

The execution of William Reaves underscores the ongoing debate over the death penalty in the United States, particularly in Florida, which has become the leading state in capital punishment. The case highlights issues of aging death-row populations, the use of lethal injection, and the role of military service and PTSD in sentencing. It also reflects the political will of Governor Ron DeSantis to accelerate executions in his final term, despite opposition from veterans' groups and human rights organizations. The case may influence future legal challenges to death penalty procedures and the consideration of mental health factors in sentencing.

What to watch

The next scheduled execution in Florida is Jesse Guardado, 64, on November 5, 2026, for a 2004 robbery-murder. If carried out, this would tie Florida's 2025 record of 19 executions. The case may also prompt further legal challenges to lethal injection protocols and the consideration of mental health factors in death penalty cases. The veterans' letter to DeSantis may influence future clemency decisions, although DeSantis has not responded to requests for comment.