Florida’s Executions Highlight Increasingly Older Death Row Population

Florida executed a 77-year-old death row inmate on Tuesday, marking the 18th execution of 2026. This contributes to an unusually high number of elderly prisoners being executed as the state approaches its annual execution record. William Reaves was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. following a three-drug lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1986 shooting death of Richard Raczkoski, an Indian River County sheriff’s deputy.

“Would we all be so lucky to be 77 years old and to die so peacefully? That’s not justice in any way, in my opinion,” stated Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers in a press briefing after the execution. This marks Florida’s 18th execution of the year under Governor Ron DeSantis, who has overseen an increased pace of death warrants during his final term. Florida conducted 19 executions in 2025, the state record, and could match this number if another execution scheduled for next month proceeds.

Reaves was the eighth Florida prisoner aged 70 or older executed this year, highlighting the aging death row population in Florida and nationally. Data from the Death Penalty Information Center shows that Reaves was sentenced to death 34 years prior to his execution. Several other Florida inmates executed this year also spent nearly three decades or more on death row.

Why Florida’s Death Row Inmates Are Getting Older

The issue of aging inmates has garnered renewed attention when Florida scheduled the executions of multiple inmates in their 70s and an 80-year-old. The cases sparked debate over executing elderly and frail inmates who have spent decades waiting for appeals’ outcomes. Supporters of capital punishment argue that long appeals are essential to safeguard constitutional rights and prevent wrongful executions but may delay justice for victims’ families. Opponents raise humanitarian concerns and question the purpose of executing inmates in old age.

Research by the Death Penalty Information Center found that as appeals have become lengthier, the median age of executed inmates in the United States has increased steadily over recent decades.

Reaves’ Final Appeals

Reaves’ legal team challenged Florida’s lethal injection protocol, arguing that jurors were unaware of his 100 percent disability determination by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs due to post-traumatic stress disorder from his Vietnam service. Over 100 military veterans appealed to Governor DeSantis to halt the execution. The governor did not intervene, and both the U.S. Supreme Court and Florida Supreme Court declined to halt it.

According to court records, deputy Raczkoski responded to a 911 call placed by Reaves at a Vero Beach convenience store on September 23, 1986. Authorities stated a gun fell from Reaves’ clothing during the encounter, leading to a struggle. Investigators said the deputy attempted to flee when Reaves shot him four times, resulting in his death.

After witnessing the execution, Marc Raczkoski, the deputy’s brother, told reporters that his brother had finally received justice. Sheriff Flowers described the execution as providing closure rather than justice. Florida is scheduled to execute another inmate, Jesse Guardado, on November 5, potentially matching the record 19 executions carried out last year.