Ronald Palmer Heath, aged 64, is set to be executed in Florida, marking the first execution in the state this year. He will receive a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison, 37 years after the brutal murder of traveling salesman Michael Sheridan in 1989.
Details of the Crime and Conviction
Heath was convicted in 1990 of first-degree murder and robbery with a deadly weapon for the killing of Michael Sheridan. The crime involved Heath and his brother Kenneth luring Sheridan to a remote area in Gainesville, where they shot and stabbed him before dumping his body. They then used Sheridan's credit cards, leading to additional forgery charges against Heath.
Legal Appeals and Recent Developments
Heath's appeals to the Florida Supreme Court were recently denied, and similar challenges are still awaiting a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court. This execution follows a record 19 executions in Florida in 2025 under Governor Ron DeSantis, the highest number since the death penalty was reinstated in the state in 1976.
The case highlights ongoing debates about capital punishment in Florida, with Heath's execution representing a significant moment in the state's criminal justice system. The prolonged legal process, spanning over three decades, underscores the complexities and delays often associated with death penalty cases in the United States.
