05/27/2026
Florida carries out ex*****on in shocking case where man burned neighbor alive shortly after her husband’s burial
In a harrowing conclusion to a decades-long case, Florida executed Chadwick Scott Willisy, 58, on April 21, 2026, for the brutal murder of Marla Sather, whom he set on fire inside her home 36 years earlier. Willisy maintained his innocence until his final breath, even as the victim’s family continued to seek closure.
The ex*****on took place at Florida State Prison near Stark, marking the end of a lengthy legal battle that began with the chilling events of September 5, 1990. At just 22 years old, Willisy entered Sather’s home, bound her, and set her ablaze following a violent assault.
Sather, a devoted mother and grandmother, had only recently buried her husband just weeks before her tragic death. The crime sent shockwaves through the Palm Bay community, and prosecutors described the evidence against Willisy as overwhelming. He was convicted in 1991 of first-degree murder, burglary, robbery, and arson.
Despite years of appeals and repeated claims of innocence, along with a troubled background marked by addiction and a difficult upbringing, his legal efforts ultimately failed. The case drew significant attention due to its brutality and the broader questions it raised about addiction, circumstance, and the justice system.
In the days leading up to his ex*****on, Willisy expressed remorse to his family and encouraged fellow inmates to remain strong. His final meal included chicken, tater tots, rice, beans, ice cream, pie, and milk—a stark contrast to the life he spent on death row.
At 6:00 p.m., he was pronounced dead just 15 minutes after the procedure began, bringing an end to a chapter defined by violence, grief, and decades of legal struggle. Marla Sather’s family, who endured years of anguish, awaited long-overdue closure, though their loss of a beloved mother and grandmother remains immeasurable.
The case has also reignited debate over capital punishment in Florida, a state that executed 19 individuals in 2025 alone, raising ongoing questions about the speed, ethics, and fairness of the death penalty process. As the justice system continues to wrestle with these issues, the story of Chadwick Scott Willisy stands as a stark reminder of the consequences of violent crime and the complex pursuit of justice.