<p>Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has withdrawn the death warrant for William Thompson, a 74-year-old inmate, who was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection next week.</p>
<p>DeSantis did not provide a reason for revoking the death penalty for Thompson in a signed letter on Thursday. However, the decision may be related to Thompson's health conditions, including dementia and a heart condition. The governor had previously signed the death warrant for Thompson on September 11.</p>
<p>Thompson was convicted for the murder and kidnapping of 23-year-old Sally Ivester in 1976, when he was 24 years old. Prior to this decision, DeSantis had delayed the execution pending a psychiatric evaluation for Thompson.</p>
<p>An attorney representing Thompson stated that he requires medical care instead of the death penalty. “Mr. Thompson suffers from dementia and his health is failing — both of which were gravely concerning with an impending execution,” said Bri Lacy, according to the Associated Press. “Now that Mr. Thompson is no longer under a death warrant, we hope the Florida Department of Corrections will relocate him to an adequate medical facility and provide the care he needs.”</p>
<p>Despite the withdrawal of the death warrant, Thompson remains on Florida’s death row, which means he could still face another death warrant in the future, whether signed by DeSantis or his successor.</p>
<p>Thompson was one of two inmates scheduled for execution on Tuesday, with the other execution proceeding as planned.</p>
<p>Florida executed 19 inmates last year and is on track to exceed that number this year if the remaining execution scheduled for October 13 takes place.</p>
<p>The death penalty has received significant attention recently, particularly following a botched execution in Tennessee involving convicted murderer Christa Pike and the announcement that Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan will be executed live on camera in early December.</p>