Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has withdrawn the death warrant for William Thompson, one of the state's longest-serving death row inmates, who is reportedly suffering from dementia. The decision was made on Thursday, just five days before Thompson's scheduled execution for a murder committed 50 years ago. DeSantis did not provide a reason for the withdrawal in a letter to Florida State Prison Warden Randall Polk, though he had signed the death warrant on September 11.
Thompson, 74, has been on death row since 1989, with his initial sentence being imposed in 1976. His attorney, Brittney Lacy, has indicated that Thompson requires urgent medical care, citing his inability to provide details about his hospital stays and his apparent unawareness of his situation. A neuropsychologist, Robert Ouaou, assessed Thompson and concluded that he meets the criteria for insanity due to his dementia and cognitive decline, stating that he lacks the mental capacity to understand the reason for his impending execution.
Thompson's health issues have been documented, including a significant knowledge deficit, as he reportedly did not know who the current president was. His conviction stems from the 1976 murder of Sally Ivester, who was killed in a brutal attack by Thompson and an accomplice, Rocco Surace. The case was described by local law enforcement as “Dade’s meanest murder.” Surace died in custody in 1993 after being sentenced to 203 years in prison for his role in the crime.
Grace Hanna, executive director of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, supported the governor's decision, stating that executing Thompson would violate the Eighth Amendment and undermine human dignity.