On Tuesday night, Chadwick Scott Willacy, aged 58, faced execution at the Florida State Prison near Starke. His crime, committed in 1990, involved the brutal murder of his neighbor, Marlys Mae Sather. Willacy doused Sather with gasoline and set her on fire to facilitate a robbery.
Willacy was given a lethal injection composed of three drugs—a sedative, a paralytic, and a heart-stopping agent—and was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. This marks Florida's fifth execution in 2026, as reported by the Associated Press.
The horrific event unfolded on September 5, 1990, in Palm Bay, Brevard County, when Sather unexpectedly returned home during her lunch break, catching Willacy in the act of burglary.
Details of a Heinous Crime
Court documents reveal that Willacy struck Sather on the head with a blunt object, resulting in a skull fracture. He then bound her hands and feet with wire and tape. Failing in his attempt to strangle her using a telephone cord, Willacy resorted to setting her ablaze. The autopsy later confirmed that Sather, aged 56, succumbed to smoke inhalation, indicating she was alive when the fire was set.
Following the murder, Willacy stole Sather’s car, jewelry, checks, and coins, and used her ATM card to withdraw cash. Convicted of first-degree murder, burglary, robbery, and arson, he was sentenced to death in 1991.
Legal Proceedings and Final Moments
In 1994, the Florida Supreme Court mandated a new sentencing hearing due to a procedural error. The following year, a jury overwhelmingly recommended the death penalty by an 11-1 vote.
The execution order was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis on March 13, 2026, with both the Florida Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court dismissing Willacy's final appeals.
Before his execution, Willacy offered a brief statement, apologizing to his family, urging his "brothers on death row" to stay strong, and asserting his innocence. He addressed the victim’s family, saying, "I hope this brings you peace. If it does, that’s good. But this is not the right thing."
Family's Search for Closure
Florida has previously set a record with 19 executions, with another scheduled for April 30. The victim’s children issued a statement, emphasizing, "We have waited 36 and a half years for justice for our mother. Marlys Mae Sather should be remembered as a beautiful, loving daughter, wife, mother of three, grandmother of five, great-grandmother of five, aunt, cousin, and friend."
The statement also highlighted that Sather had lost her husband to cancer in July 1990, just weeks before her tragic death.
Understanding the Execution Process in Florida
What drugs are used in Florida's lethal injection process?
Florida's lethal injection protocol involves a combination of three drugs: a sedative, a paralytic agent, and a drug that stops the heart.
How many executions have been carried out in Florida in 2026?
As of now, Florida has conducted five executions in 2026.
What was the outcome of Marlys Mae Sather's autopsy?
The autopsy concluded that Marlys Mae Sather died from smoke inhalation, confirming she was alive when set on fire.