# DeSantis Signs 17th Death Warrant for William Lee Thompson
*Florida Governor sets Oct. 13 execution date, marking a significant milestone in the state's modern death penalty history.*

- Medio: Orlando Ledger News (https://orlandoledgernews.com)
- URL: https://orlandoledgernews.com/noticia/desantis-signs-17th-death-warrant-for-william-lee-thompson
- Sección: Justice
- Autor: Orlando Ledger News Staff
- Publicado: 2026-09-14T08:31:25.712Z
> Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has authorized the 17th execution of 2026, scheduling William Lee Thompson's death penalty for Oct. 13 after his 1978 murder conviction.

## Las claves

- Gov. DeSantis signed a death warrant for William Lee Thompson on Sept. 11
- Execution is scheduled for October 13, 2026 in Florida
- Thompson was convicted of the 1976 murder and torture of Sally Ivester

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed his 17th death warrant on Friday for death row inmate William Lee Thompson, scheduling his execution for Oct. 13 following his conviction in 1978. The scheduled execution would mark the 17th death sentence carried out in Florida this year under DeSantis. This action follows a long legal history surrounding Thompson's case, which dates back to crimes committed in Miami.

### Conviction and Crimes

Thompson was convicted of the 1976 murder, kidnapping, and torture of Sally Ivester in a Miami motel room. According to court documents from March 30, 1976, Thompson and an accomplice were in a motel room with Ivester and another woman. The men beat and tortured Ivester after she was unsuccessful in obtaining $200 to $300 from her mother.

Reports state that the abuse was temporarily paused when Ivester was taken to a phone booth and instructed to ask for more money. After the call, Thompson and his accomplice returned with Ivester to the motel room, where they continued their assault. Court documents indicate that approximately 80% of Ivester's body was covered in deep bruises, cuts, and burns.

### Legal Timeline

The legal proceedings against Thompson span several decades. On Sept. 18, 1978, Thompson was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and sexual battery. He was sentenced to death on Aug. 25, 1980. The Supreme Court of Florida affirmed his conviction in July 1980 and later affirmed the death sentence on April 1, 1993, as this newspaper reported in [DeSantis Signs Death Warrant for Orlando’s 'Hog Trail Killer' as Executions Cont](/noticia/desantis-signs-death-warrant-for-orlandos-hog-trail-killer-as-executions-continu).

From the 1980s through 2026, court documents show that Thompson pursued multiple appeals throughout the years. On Sept. 11, 2026, Thompson's death warrant was officially signed by Governor DeSantis, setting the stage for the upcoming execution on Oct. 13, as this newspaper reported in [DeSantis Signs Death Warrant for Orlando’s 'Hog Trail Killer' as Executions Cont](/noticia/desantis-signs-death-warrant-for-orlandos-hog-trail-killer-as-executions-continu).

### Context of Florida Executions

Florida set a modern record for executions in 2025, when Gov. Ron DeSantis issued death warrants that ultimately led to 19 executions—the most in a single year in the state's modern death-penalty era. The previous record was eight executions, set in 2018, as noted by [DW](https://dw.com).

The most recent inmate executed was Daniel Conahan Jr., who was killed via lethal injection on Sept. 10. His death marked the 15th execution in Florida this year. The next scheduled execution is for Curtis W. Beasley, whose warrant was signed by DeSantis on Aug. 26, 2026.
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Fuente original: https://orlandoledgernews.com/noticia/desantis-signs-17th-death-warrant-for-william-lee-thompson