An injustice against William Thompson and a new warrant (William Reaves, 10/20)

Gov. DeSantis has signed a new death warrant for Vietnam veteran William Reaves, setting his execution for Tuesday, October 20 at 6pm. Private Reaves was sentenced to death for the murder of Deputy Sheriff Richard Raczkoski. We’ll have more to share on his case soon. In the meantime, please sign his petition and share our posts on Facebook and Instagram.

Dear friends,

I have been a capital defense lawyer in Florida for 20 years, and I have seen a lot of evidence of Florida’s cruel and broken death penalty. But some things still shock my conscience. What is happening to William “Bill” Thompson right now is one of them, and I want to be sure you understand exactly what the State of Florida is doing in our names.

Bill was sentenced to death for his role in the 1976 murder of Sally Ivester. We grieve for Ms. Ivester and everyone who loved her. Bill’s co-defendant, who carried out the killing, received a life sentence. Bill has remained on death row for nearly 50 years. He is 74 years old.

His health has been declining for years, but it deteriorated sharply this summer. Bill is now terminally ill and living with severe dementia, heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease, sepsis, and other serious conditions. He has two ostomies, and relies on an indwelling catheter to empty his bladder. He was hospitalized on August 17 and remained there until September 10. When he was discharged, doctors directed that he receive continued medical care in prison.

The very next day, Governor DeSantis signed his death warrant, setting the execution for 6pm on October 13. Since then, Bill has not received the specialized care his doctors prescribed. There are now two urgent legal proceedings underway:

All Writs Petition for Medical Care

First, Bill’s attorneys have asked the Florida Supreme Court to order the Department of Corrections to provide the medical care he needs. Our recent press release explains that filing and the disturbing circumstances surrounding his treatment. Expert affidavits and an amicus brief filed in the case paint a grim picture of his health — and what might happen if he remains in a death watch cell, rather than in a hospital.

Ford Claim for Incompetency

Second, his attorneys have raised a claim under Ford v. Wainwright, which prohibits the execution of someone who cannot rationally understand why the State intends to kill him. Florida law requires the governor to appoint a panel of psychiatric experts to evaluate Bill and report its findings. That evaluation is scheduled for October 1.

An expert who examined Bill this week found that he does not even understand that he is living under a sentence of death. The records indicated he doesn’t know where he is or what time period in which he is living.

The Ford process requires the governor to temporarily stay Bill’s execution while his competency is evaluated. Let me be clear: That stay is a legal requirement, not an act of mercy. It’s a formality, and while we always appreciate when this administration follows the law, it’s the bare minimum.

All of this is unfolding while Florida prepares for yet another execution. Curtis Wilkie Beasley, a 77-year-old Army veteran experiencing serious physical and cognitive decline, is scheduled to be executed on September 29. His case is now before the Florida Supreme Court. Unless a court intervenes, people across Florida will gather that evening to bear witness. Please make plans now to join a vigil or protest near you.

Sign the Petition

Send a Letter to the Governor

Find a Vigil or Protest

Florida is moving from one execution to the next at a relentless pace. We are now ripping people from the hospital to take them to the death chamber. We need you with us — for Bill, for Curtis, for William, and for every person caught in this machinery.

Onward,

Maria DeLiberato

Legal and Policy Director

Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty