Florida Prepares for Ninth Execution of the Year
Florida is preparing to carry out its ninth execution of 2026 as a 74-year-old death row inmate convicted of murdering his wife more than three decades ago faces lethal injection. The execution is scheduled to take place Thursday evening at Florida State Prison near Starke, continuing the state’s active use of capital punishment.
The inmate, Dusty Ray Spencer, was sentenced to death for the 1992 killing of his wife, Karen Spencer. If the execution proceeds as planned, Florida will further extend its position as one of the nation’s most active states in carrying out death sentences.
History of Domestic Violence Led to Fatal Attack
Court records show Spencer had a documented history of violence against his wife before the murder. In late 1991, authorities arrested him after he allegedly choked and threatened to kill Karen Spencer. While jailed, prosecutors said he warned her during a phone call that he intended to “finish what he started” once released.
Days before the fatal stabbing, Spencer reportedly attacked his wife’s teenage son with a clothes iron after the teenager attempted to protect his mother. About a week later, officials said the teenager discovered Spencer assaulting Karen with a brick outside their home.
The teen attempted to stop the attack by using a rifle, but the firearm failed to discharge. Spencer allegedly threatened the boy with a knife, forcing him to flee for help. When law enforcement officers arrived, Karen Spencer was found dead after suffering multiple stab wounds.
Appeals Rejected Before Scheduled Execution
Spencer was convicted in 1992 of first-degree murder along with several additional violent offenses. Although the Florida Supreme Court later ordered a new sentencing hearing due to procedural issues, he was again sentenced to death in 1995.
In the latest round of legal challenges, Spencer’s attorneys argued that his advanced age and serious medical conditions, including liver disease, made the planned execution unconstitutional because it could cause unnecessary suffering. Florida’s highest court rejected those claims, allowing the execution to move forward.
A final appeal remains pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, but unless a stay is granted, the execution is expected to proceed using Florida’s three-drug lethal injection protocol.
