# Florida Governor Signs 17th Death Warrant for Inmate William Lee Thompson
*Gov. Ron DeSantis schedules execution for Oct. 13, marking the state's continued high volume of capital cases in 2026.*

- Medio: Orlando Ledger News (https://orlandoledgernews.com)
- URL: https://orlandoledgernews.com/noticia/florida-governor-signs-17th-death-warrant-for-inmate-william-lee-thompson
- Sección: World
- Autor: Orlando Ledger News Staff
- Publicado: 2026-09-14T09:39:22.772Z
> Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued the state's 17th execution order in 2026, scheduling William Lee Thompson’s death for Oct. 13 after his 1978 murder conviction.

## Las claves

- Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant for inmate William Lee Thompson on Friday
- The execution is scheduled to take place in Florida on October 13, 2026
- This marks the 17th death sentence carried out under DeSantis this year

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed his 17th death warrant of the year on Friday, officially scheduling the execution for inmate William Lee Thompson. The scheduled date is October 13 following Thompson's conviction in 1978. This action marks a significant milestone in Florida’s capital punishment record under the current administration.

### Background on the Conviction

Court documents detail that Thompson was convicted of the first-degree murder, kidnapping, and sexual battery of Sally Ivester. The crime occurred on March 30, 1976, in a Miami motel room. According to reports from the time, Thompson and an accomplice were present with Ivester and another woman when they beat and tortured her after she failed to obtain money from her mother.

The abuse was reportedly paused temporarily while Ivester used a phone booth to contact her family for more funds. Upon their return to the motel room, the men continued the assault. Court records state that approximately 80% of Ivester's body was covered in deep bruises, cuts, and burns at the time of her death.

### Legal Timeline and Appeals

Thompson’s legal journey has spanned decades. He was convicted on September 18, 1978, and sentenced to death on August 25, 1980. The Supreme Court of Florida affirmed his conviction in July 1980 and later upheld the death sentence in April 1993, more context 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).

Throughout the 1980s until 2026, Thompson pursued multiple appeals as documented by court records. On September 11, 2026, Governor DeSantis signed the final warrant for his execution. This follows a period where Florida set a modern record for executions in 2025, with 19 carried out under DeSantis's administration.

### Context of Recent Executions

The scheduling of Thompson’s execution comes shortly after that of Daniel Conahan Jr., who was executed via lethal injection on September 10. Conahan's death marked the 15th execution in Florida for this year. The next inmate scheduled to be executed is Curtis W. Beasley, whose warrant was signed by DeSantis on August 26.

Beasley, now 77, is scheduled for execution on September 29 following his conviction for the bludgeoning death of Carolyn Monfort in Polk County in 1995. These recent cases highlight an active period for capital punishment proceedings within the state's justice system.
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Fuente original: https://orlandoledgernews.com/noticia/florida-governor-signs-17th-death-warrant-for-inmate-william-lee-thompson