Topline: Florida is set to execute Chadwick Willacy for the 1990 killing of neighbor Marlys Sather, who authorities said was beaten, strangled, and burned during a burglary.
Published: April 22, 2026 10:00 am ET
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Chadwick Willacy (via Florida Department of Corrections)
STARKE, Fla. — Chadwick Willacy is set to be executed by lethal injection April 21 at Florida State Prison for the 1990 murder of his next-door neighbor, Marlys Sather, in a case authorities say involved a burglary, a savage beating, strangulation, and arson.
According to a WFLA report, Willacy is to receive a lethal injection consisting of a sedative, a paralytic, and a drug that stops the heart.
Officials said Sather came home and discovered Willacy burglarizing her Palm Bay residence. A death warrant signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in March said Willacy beat Sather with a squeegee and a hammer, then choked her with an electric cord taken from an iron.
Authorities said Willacy tied Sather up, leaving her unable to move, dragged her into another room, doused her body with gasoline, and set her on fire. Investigators also said he removed the home’s smoke detectors and placed an oscillating fan near her feet to fan the flames. Her badly burned body was found the next day.
Detectives linked Willacy to the crime after he left the home with stolen items that included Sather’s checkbook and coins. He was convicted about a year later, and jurors recommended a death sentence by a 9-3 vote.
The Florida Supreme Court later reversed the sentence and sent the case back for a new penalty proceeding, but Willacy again received the death penalty at resentencing, and that punishment was affirmed.
State officials said Willacy would be the fifth person executed in Florida in 2026. WFLA reported the total could have been higher, but the Florida Supreme Court temporarily halted the March execution of James Aren Duckett while DNA testing continues in his case. The last inmate executed in Florida was Michael King, convicted in the kidnapping and murder of Denise Amber Lee.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Florida is set to execute Chadwick Willacy for the 1990 killing of neighbor Marlys Sather, who authorities said was beaten, strangled, and burned during a burglary.
By Silvia Torres
Published: April 22, 2026 10:00 am ET
Chadwick Willacy (via Florida Department of Corrections)
STARKE, Fla. — Chadwick Willacy is set to be executed by lethal injection April 21 at Florida State Prison for the 1990 murder of his next-door neighbor, Marlys Sather, in a case authorities say involved a burglary, a savage beating, strangulation, and arson.
According to a WFLA report, Willacy is to receive a lethal injection consisting of a sedative, a paralytic, and a drug that stops the heart.
Officials said Sather came home and discovered Willacy burglarizing her Palm Bay residence. A death warrant signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in March said Willacy beat Sather with a squeegee and a hammer, then choked her with an electric cord taken from an iron.
Authorities said Willacy tied Sather up, leaving her unable to move, dragged her into another room, doused her body with gasoline, and set her on fire. Investigators also said he removed the home’s smoke detectors and placed an oscillating fan near her feet to fan the flames. Her badly burned body was found the next day.
Detectives linked Willacy to the crime after he left the home with stolen items that included Sather’s checkbook and coins. He was convicted about a year later, and jurors recommended a death sentence by a 9-3 vote.
The Florida Supreme Court later reversed the sentence and sent the case back for a new penalty proceeding, but Willacy again received the death penalty at resentencing, and that punishment was affirmed.
State officials said Willacy would be the fifth person executed in Florida in 2026. WFLA reported the total could have been higher, but the Florida Supreme Court temporarily halted the March execution of James Aren Duckett while DNA testing continues in his case. The last inmate executed in Florida was Michael King, convicted in the kidnapping and murder of Denise Amber Lee.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Convicted Killer Who Burned His Florida Neighbor Alive Set to Be Executed
Florida is set to execute Chadwick Willacy for the 1990 killing of neighbor Marlys Sather, who authorities said was beaten, strangled, and burned during a burglary.
By Silvia Torres
Published: April 22, 2026 10:00 am ET
Chadwick Willacy (via Florida Department of Corrections)
STARKE, Fla. — Chadwick Willacy is set to be executed by lethal injection April 21 at Florida State Prison for the 1990 murder of his next-door neighbor, Marlys Sather, in a case authorities say involved a burglary, a savage beating, strangulation, and arson.
According to a WFLA report, Willacy is to receive a lethal injection consisting of a sedative, a paralytic, and a drug that stops the heart.
Officials said Sather came home and discovered Willacy burglarizing her Palm Bay residence. A death warrant signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in March said Willacy beat Sather with a squeegee and a hammer, then choked her with an electric cord taken from an iron.
Authorities said Willacy tied Sather up, leaving her unable to move, dragged her into another room, doused her body with gasoline, and set her on fire. Investigators also said he removed the home’s smoke detectors and placed an oscillating fan near her feet to fan the flames. Her badly burned body was found the next day.
Detectives linked Willacy to the crime after he left the home with stolen items that included Sather’s checkbook and coins. He was convicted about a year later, and jurors recommended a death sentence by a 9-3 vote.
The Florida Supreme Court later reversed the sentence and sent the case back for a new penalty proceeding, but Willacy again received the death penalty at resentencing, and that punishment was affirmed.
State officials said Willacy would be the fifth person executed in Florida in 2026. WFLA reported the total could have been higher, but the Florida Supreme Court temporarily halted the March execution of James Aren Duckett while DNA testing continues in his case. The last inmate executed in Florida was Michael King, convicted in the kidnapping and murder of Denise Amber Lee.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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