Cold last four words of Vietnam veteran, 77, put to death in Florida's 18th execution this yearReanna Smith Wed, October 21, 2026 at 2:15 PM UTC
William Reaves, 77, was sentenced to death after being convicted of first-degree murder for the 1986 shooting of Indian River County Deputy Richard Raczkowski -Credit:Florida Dept of Corrections (Florida Dept of Corrections)
A death row killer uttered four final words on Tuesday as he became the 18th inmate to be executed in Florida this year amid Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' aggressive implementation of capital punishment during his final term.
William Reaves, 77, was declared dead at 6:12pm after receiving a three-drug lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He had been found guilty of first-degree murder for the September 1986 fatal shooting of Indian River County sheriff's deputy Richard Raczkoski.
The death chamber curtain opened precisely at the scheduled 6pm execution time with Reaves already secured to a gurney with an IV inserted in his arm. When asked if he wished to make any final statement, he responded "No, I do not."
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The lethal injection commenced immediately afterward. Approximately 30 seconds later, Reaves took several deep breaths before becoming motionless.
After several minutes, the team warden shook Reaves' shoulders and called out his name, receiving no response. A medical professional was summoned shortly thereafter to check for vital signs, and Reaves was declared dead roughly a minute later.
Reaves was given a three-drug lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke -Credit:AP Photo/David Fischer
Reaves became the eighth Florida inmate over 70 years old executed this year, underscoring the nation's increasingly elderly death-row population as Florida continues to significantly exceed other states in total executions. Last year, Florida established a state record with 19 executions annually, and appears set to match that figure if another execution proceeds next month as planned.
DeSantis, who departs office in January after serving two terms, has stated he seeks justice for victims' families who have frequently waited decades for death sentences to be imposed.
Marc Raczkoski, the deputy's brother, spoke briefly to reporters following the execution, saying his brother had finally received justice.
However, Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers, who was present, stated during a post-execution briefing that he viewed the execution as closure rather than justice.
"Would we all be so lucky to be 77 years old and to die so peacefully," Flowers said. "That's not justice in any way in my opinion."
Raczkoski had responded to a 911 call at a Vero Beach convenience store on September 23, 1986, according to court documents.
Reaves later admitted he had made the call from a payphone outside the establishment. During their conversation, a gun dropped from Reaves' shorts, authorities said.
The two men then fought over the weapon, with Reaves ultimately regaining possession of it. Investigators stated the deputy was attempting to flee when Reaves fired four shots at him.
Raczkoski succumbed to his injuries later that day. Reaves was found guilty and given a death sentence approximately one year after the shooting.
However, the Florida Supreme Court reversed the conviction due to a prosecutorial conflict of interest and mandated a new trial. Reaves was convicted once more and received another death sentence in 1992.
Later appeals proved unsuccessful. The US Supreme Court on Tuesday afternoon dismissed Reaves' last-minute appeal without providing comment.
The Florida Supreme Court also denied Reaves' appeals last week in his attempt to avoid execution. His legal team contested Florida's three-drug lethal injection protocol.
All Florida executions are conducted using a three-drug lethal injection protocol consisting of a sedative, a paralytic agent, and a cardiac-arrest-inducing drug, according to the Department of Corrections.
The court has previously upheld this method against comparable legal challenges. Florida's approach differs from the single-drug injection used in states like Tennessee, where death row inmate Christa Pike was rushed to the hospital last month after surviving two doses of pentobarbital.
Reaves' legal team also contended that jurors who recommended the death penalty were never informed that the US Department of Veterans Affairs had classified the Army veteran as 100% disabled due to post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from his service in the Vietnam War. More than 100 military veterans urged DeSantis in a letter on Monday to halt the execution, citing these factors.
A total of 47 people were executed across the United States in 2025. Florida led the country that year with 19 executions and has accounted for more than half of the 32 US executions — Reaves included — carried out so far in 2026.
In July, Florida executed two prisoners in a single day, becoming the first state in nearly a decade to do so.
On November 5, Jesse Guardado, 64, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection in the same Florida death chamber. Guardado was convicted of robbing and killing a 75-year-old woman while stealing items on a crack cocaine binge in 2004.
Source: Crime
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