A Florida man convicted of setting his neighbour on fire after she discovered him burglarising her home is scheduled to be executed on Tuesday evening. Chadwick Scott Willacy, aged 58, is set to receive a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke for the brutal 1990 killing of Marlys Sather.
Details of the Heinous Crime
Court records reveal that in September 1990, Marlys Sather returned to her Palm Bay home during her lunch break and encountered Willacy in the act of burglary. Investigators state that Willacy struck Sather in the head with a blunt object, fracturing her skull, before binding her hands and ankles with wire and tape.
Willacy then attempted to strangle Sather with a telephone cord. When that failed, he doused her in gasoline and set her on fire. An autopsy confirmed that Sather died from smoke inhalation, indicating she was still alive when ignited.
Following the murder, Willacy stole Sather's car and other items from her home, and used her ATM card to withdraw cash. Her body was discovered by her son-in-law after she failed to return to work.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Willacy was convicted of first-degree murder, burglary, robbery, and arson in 1991. He received a death sentence based on a 9-3 jury recommendation. However, the Florida Supreme Court ordered a new sentencing in 1994 due to procedural errors by the trial judge.
In 1995, Willacy was resentenced to death with an 11-1 recommendation from a new jury. His final appeals were denied by the Florida Supreme Court last Wednesday, and his case was pending before the U.S. Supreme Court as the execution date approached.
Florida's Execution Trends
This execution represents Florida's fifth in 2026, following a record-breaking 19 executions in the state during 2025. Under Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida has seen more executions in a single year than any other governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
The previous record was set in 2014 with eight executions. In 2025, Florida led the United States with 47 total executions nationwide, with Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas each recording five executions.
Upcoming Executions and Method
Another execution is scheduled in Florida for later this month. James Ernest Hitchcock, 70, is due to receive a lethal injection on April 30 for the murder of his 13-year-old niece.
All Florida executions are conducted via lethal injection, utilising a three-drug cocktail comprising a sedative, a paralytic agent, and a drug that stops the heart, as per the Department of Corrections protocol.
