Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has authorized the execution of William Lee Thompson, who was sentenced to death for the 1976 murder of Sally Ivester. Thompson has been on death row for over 46 years.
According to FOX 13, the execution is scheduled for October 13, 2026, at 6:00 PM. This comes as Florida experiences an unprecedented pace of executions in recent history.
The 1976 Motel Room Tragedy
The crime took place on March 30, 1976, in a motel room located in Miami-Dade County. Court documents, as reported by the media, reveal that Thompson and his accomplice, Rocco James Surace, brutally assaulted Ivester after she failed to procure $200-$300 from her mother, as they had demanded.
They took Ivester to a phone booth to request the money, continuing their attack upon returning to the motel. Court records show that about 80% of Ivester’s body was covered in severe bruises, cuts, and burns. She died from internal bleeding and multiple injuries.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Thompson was arrested a few days later and convicted in 1978 of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault. His death sentence was handed down in 1980. Since then, he has remained on death row while his case underwent numerous legal appeals.
DeSantis's recent order isn't Thompson's first encounter with execution orders. In 1987, the Florida Supreme Court reviewed an appeal during his second execution order, maintaining a stay and ordering a new sentencing process. Ultimately, in 1993, the state Supreme Court upheld the renewed death sentence.
Thompson's Appeals and Supreme Court Involvement
Thompson also took his case to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that his long wait for execution was a cruel and unusual punishment violating the Eighth Amendment. In 2009, the Supreme Court declined to review the case, though it sparked debate among some justices, as documented by Human Rights Watch.
Former Justice John Paul Stevens highlighted the "dehumanizing effects" of Thompson's confinement conditions, spending nearly 23 hours a day in a cell.
Accomplice and Current Execution Trends
Surace, Thompson's accomplice, initially received a death sentence but was later re-sentenced to life imprisonment for second-degree murder after a retrial.
So far in 2026, Florida has executed 15 individuals, with more executions on the calendar. Among them is Curtis W. Beasley, who is scheduled for execution on September 29. If Thompson's execution proceeds on October 13, it will mark over half a century since Sally Ivester's murder and more than 46 years since Thompson was placed on death row.
Understanding the Impact of Long-Term Death Row Incarceration
What are the psychological effects of long-term incarceration on death row?
Inmates on death row for extended periods often suffer from severe psychological distress due to the isolation, uncertainty, and prolonged wait for execution, which can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
How does the U.S. Supreme Court view prolonged death row incarceration?
The U.S. Supreme Court has not issued a definitive ruling on whether prolonged death row incarceration constitutes a violation of the Eighth Amendment, though it has been a topic of debate among justices.