Florida executed William Frances Silvia by lethal injection on Tuesday evening, marking the state’s 13th execution this year.
Silvia, 61, was pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m. at Florida State Prison. He was convicted of first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of his estranged wife, Patricia Silvia, and attempted first-degree murder for the wounding of his mother-in-law, Betty Woodard, in 2006.
The execution chamber’s curtain opened at 6:00 p.m., showing Silvia strapped to a gurney with an IV line in his arm. A spiritual adviser sat near his feet, praying throughout the procedure.
When asked for a final statement, Silvia apologized.
“I’m sorry all this happened. It was an accident,” Silvia said. “I never meant to hurt her.”
Following the administration of the state’s three-drug lethal injection protocol—which consists of a sedative, a paralytic, and a drug to stop the heart—a prison warden checked Silvia for responsiveness by shaking him and calling his name. A medical examiner declared him dead minutes later.
According to court records, Silvia bought a shotgun in 2006 and drove to his mother-in-law’s home near Orlando, where his wife had moved following their separation two months earlier. The family was holding an outdoor cookout when he arrived. Authorities said that after an unsuccessful attempt to reconcile with his wife, Silvia retrieved the firearm from his truck and shot both women.
Following the execution, Patricia Silvia’s sister, Pamela Wyatt, addressed the media.
“Nothing that happens today can give us those stolen years,” Wyatt said. “No execution can return Patricia to her children and give her the grandchildren she dreamed of knowing. But today can be an opportunity to remember that Patricia’s life was bigger than the terrible act that ended it.”
Florida has carried out more than half of the 23 executions completed across the United States in 2026, with two additional executions scheduled for September. The state also recorded the highest total nationwide in 2025, accounting for 19 of the country’s 47 executions.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed more death warrants than any previous Florida governor. In past public statements, DeSantis noted that his goal has been to provide finality for victims’ relatives, some of whom have waited decades for sentences to be carried out. In 2023, he also signed legislation allowing capital punishment for individuals convicted of specific child sex abuse offenses.
Tuesday’s execution follows the state’s July 28 proceedings, which marked Florida’s first double execution since 1964 when James Duckett and Dominick Anthony Occhicone Jr. were put to death six hours apart.
READ: 17-Time Felon From St. Petersburg Arrested In Tampa On Drug Trafficking Charges
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
