Murderer who set neighbour on fire uses last words to make thinly-veiled apology

Florida made its fifth execution of the year, as it saw Chadwick Scott Willacy given a three-drug injection for killing Marlys Sather in a horrific attack more than 30 years ago

A murderer on death row who set his neighbour on fire more than three decdes ago used his final words to make a thinly-veiled apology.

Chadwick Scott Willacy was given a three-drug injection today for murdering Marlys Sather who was set on fire after returning home to find the thug inside her property. Willacy, who had forced entry in a chilling burglary, struck her in the head with a blunt object, fracturing her skull, and then bound her hands and ankles with wire and tape.

Having been convicted of first-degree murder, burglary, robbery and arson, Willacy spent 36 years on death row in Starke, Florida, but was finally executed today. While the 58-year-old man apologised to his own family and friends and urged his “brothers on the row” to stay strong, Willacy maintained his innocence, saying that he would never kill his friend.

Speaking before he was given the jab, Willacy said: “To the victim’s family, I hope this brings you peace. If it does, that’s good. But this is not right.”

It was Florida’s fifth execution this year, following the killing of Michael Lee King who had raped and murdered a young mother in the state. Both men had long waits on death row before their executions; almost 36 years in Willacy’s case after his attack on Ms Sather in Palm Bay, Florida.

When Ms Sather confronted the yob in her home, he attempted to strangle her with a telephone cord, and as that didn’t work, he doused her in petrol and set her on fire, records show. An autopsy determined Ms Sather had died from smoke inhalation, indicating she was still alive when she was set on fire.

Willacy also stole Ms Sather’s car and other items from her home, and used the woman’s ATM card to steal cash, officials said. When Ms Sather failed to return to work from her lunch break, her employer caller her family. Her son-in-law went to check on her and found her body. Her killer was soon sentenced to death upon a 9-3 jury recommendation after being convicted of first-degree murder, burglary, robbery and arson.

Florida’s fifth execution of 2026 followed a record 19 executions in the state last year. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis oversaw more executions in a single year in 2025 than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The previous record was set in 2014 with eight executions.

But another execution is planned in Florida later this month: James Ernest Hitchcock, 70, is scheduled to received a lethal injection on April 30. He was convicted of beating and choking his 13-year-old niece to death.