Florida Executes 77-Year-Old for Deputy's 1986 Murder Amid Accelerated State Execution Pace

Florida carried out the execution of William Reaves, a 77-year-old man, on Tuesday for the murder of a sheriff's deputy more than four decades ago. This marks the eighteenth execution in the state this year, as Republican Governor Ron DeSantis continues a rapid schedule of capital punishment.

Details of the Execution

Reaves was pronounced deceased at 6:12 p.m. at Florida State Prison, located near Starke, following the administration of a three-drug injection. He had been convicted of first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Indian River County sheriff's deputy Richard Raczkoski in September 1986.

When asked for any final statements, Reaves declined to offer any last words. Approximately 30 seconds after the injection process began, Reaves was observed taking several deep breaths before becoming still. After a few minutes, the supervising warden shook Reaves’ shoulders and called his name without response. A medical professional then checked for vital signs, and Reaves was officially declared dead about a minute later.

Reactions from Victim's Family and Law Enforcement

Following the execution, Marc Raczkoski, the brother of the slain deputy, informed reporters that his brother had finally received justice. In contrast, Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers expressed that he viewed the execution as a form of closure rather than true justice.

"Would we all be so lucky to be 77 years old and to die so peacefully," Flowers stated during a press conference. "That’s not justice in any way, in my opinion."

The Crime and Legal Journey

Court records indicate that on September 23, 1986, Deputy Raczkoski responded to a 911 call made by Reaves from a public payphone at a convenience store in Vero Beach. Upon the deputy's arrival and as the two men conversed, a firearm reportedly fell from Reaves’ pants. Officials stated that a struggle ensued over the weapon, with Reaves eventually regaining control.

Investigators reported that Reaves shot Raczkoski four times as the deputy attempted to flee. Raczkoski succumbed to his injuries later that same day.

Reaves was convicted and sentenced to death approximately one year after the shooting. However, the Florida Supreme Court subsequently overturned this conviction, citing a conflict of interest involving the prosecutor, and mandated a new trial. Following the second trial, Reaves was again found guilty and sentenced to death, with all subsequent appeals proving unsuccessful.

Final Appeals and Defense Arguments

The U.S. Supreme Court, without providing comment, denied Reaves’ request for a stay of execution and his petition to review his case on Tuesday. The state Supreme Court had also rejected Reaves’ appeals last week, which aimed to prevent the execution.

His legal team challenged Florida’s three-drug lethal injection protocol. According to the Department of Corrections, executions in Florida involve a sequence of a sedative, a paralytic agent, and a drug designed to stop the heart. The court has consistently upheld this protocol against similar challenges in the past.

Florida’s methodology differs from the single-drug injection approach used in other states, such as Tennessee. In Tennessee, death row inmate Christa Pike reportedly survived two doses of pentobarbital and required hospitalization last month. Pike has since been discharged from the hospital and returned to prison.

Reaves' attorneys also contended that the jurors who recommended the death penalty were not informed that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs had classified the Army veteran as 100% disabled due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from his service in the Vietnam War.

In light of these factors, more than 100 military veterans sent a letter to Governor DeSantis on Monday, urging him to halt the execution.

Reaves was the eighth Florida prisoner aged 70 or older to be executed this year.

Florida's Accelerated Execution Rate

Florida has increased its pace of executions, marked by a surge in death warrants signed by Governor DeSantis since 2025. The governor oversaw a state record of 19 executions last year, which was more than any other Florida governor in a single year since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976. These 19 executions in 2025 accounted for approximately 40% of the total 47 executions carried out in the U.S. for that year.

If Jesse Guardado, 64, is executed as scheduled on November 5 for robbing and murdering a woman in 2004 to purchase drugs, Florida would match last year's record.

Including Reaves, Florida has been responsible for more than half of the 32 total executions conducted nationwide so far this year.

In July, Florida executed two prisoners on the same day, marking the first instance of a state doing so in nearly a decade.

Governor DeSantis has publicly stated his commitment to ensuring justice for victims’ families, who have often endured decades of waiting for death sentences to be carried out.