A convicted murderer who had been on death row for over three decades issued a somewhat veiled apology in his final words before receiving a lethal injection. Chadwick Scott Willacy was executed for the brutal killing of Marlys Sather, who he attacked by setting her on fire when she found him inside her home. Willacy had broken in, struck Sather, bound her, and then ultimately took her life.
After being found guilty of multiple charges including first-degree murder, burglary, robbery, and arson, Willacy spent 36 years awaiting his execution in Starke, Florida. Despite expressing remorse to his loved ones and encouraging his fellow inmates to remain resilient, Willacy continued to assert his innocence, denying any involvement in his friend’s death.
Before the lethal injection, Willacy expressed, “To the victim’s family, I hope this brings you peace. If it does, that’s good. But this is not right.” This execution marked the fifth in Florida for the year, following the recent execution of Michael Lee King, who had committed a heinous crime in the state.
The tragic incident involving Sather revealed that Willacy had attempted to strangle her before resorting to setting her ablaze after she confronted him in her home. Autopsy results indicated that Sather succumbed to smoke inhalation, indicating she was still alive when the fire was set.
Aside from the violent acts, Willacy also stole Sather’s belongings, used her ATM card for money, and took her car. The discovery of Sather’s body by her son-in-law led to the conviction of Willacy on various charges, resulting in a death sentence following a 9-3 jury decision.
The execution of Willacy in 2026 followed a record number of executions in Florida the previous year, overseen by Governor Ron DeSantis. Furthermore, another execution is scheduled in Florida for later in the month, involving James Ernest Hitchcock, who was convicted of murdering his 13-year-old niece through beating and choking.