DeSantis withdraws death warrant for William Lee Thompson, calling off Florida execution
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis withdrew the death warrant for 74-year-old William Lee Thompson, cancelling his planned lethal injection days before it was due, for the first time in his tenure.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has withdrawn the death warrant for William Lee Thompson, 74, and called off his execution. The Guardian and The Hill both reported it on Friday. Thompson was due to be put to death by lethal injection within days.
It is the first time DeSantis has withdrawn a death warrant since he became governor. The Guardian says he has been in office nearly eight years.
Both outlets link the decision to the execution of Tennessee inmate Christa Pike, which they describe as botched. The Guardian reports that Pike survived failed lethal injections. That was just over a week ago, the paper says.
The Hill reports that DeSantis sent a letter to Florida State Prison Warden Randall Polk that blocks the execution. The excerpts available do not say what the letter gives as its reasons.
Reported by
- The GuardianFlorida execution called off after DeSantis withdraws death warrant for first timeFri, Oct 9, 1:32 PM EDT
- The HillDeSantis withdraws death warrant for first time, calling off executionFri, Oct 9, 3:15 PM EDT
This story was written by AI using only the reports listed above, and published without a person reviewing it first. It is rewritten as new reports arrive. Read the original reporting for full detail. Spot an error? Tell us.