A 74-year-old man in Florida was executed on Thursday for the 1992 murder of his wife, making him the oldest inmate to be put to death in the state’s modern history. Dusty Ray Spencer was pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m. after being administered a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. In his final words, Spencer expressed remorse to the family and stated, "Into thy hands I commit my spirit and my soul. I’m on my way, Lord. I’m on my way. Amen." After a few minutes of labored breathing, he ceased all movements and was later pronounced dead by a medic.
Spencer was convicted in November 1992 for the first-degree murder of his wife, Karen Spencer. Her family did not release a statement following his execution. Records from the Florida Department of Corrections indicate that the previous oldest inmates executed in the state were both 72 years old. Another 74-year-old inmate, Dennis Sochor, is scheduled for execution on July 14 for a separate murder conviction.
The oldest person executed in the U.S. in modern times was Walter Leroy Moody Jr., who was 83 when executed in Alabama in 2018. Spencer's execution was the ninth in Florida this year. In 2025, Florida set a record with 19 executions, surpassing its previous record of eight executions in a year. Florida executed more individuals than any other state last year, with Alabama, Texas, and South Carolina each executing five.
Spencer was arrested in December 1991 after threatening to kill his wife. Following a series of violent incidents, including an attack on his wife’s son, he was found guilty of multiple charges, including first-degree murder. After an initial death sentence, he was resentenced in 1994 following a Supreme Court ruling that found errors in the original sentencing process. His appeals were ultimately denied, leading to his execution.