A 74-year-old Florida man was executed on Thursday for his conviction within the 1992 deadly stabbing of his spouse, making him the oldest inmate in fashionable state historical past to be put to demise.
Dusty Ray Spencer was pronounced useless at 6:10 p.m., after officers executed him utilizing a three-drug injection at Florida State Jail close to Starke.
“Sorry, sorry to the household. Into thy fingers I commit my spirit and my soul. I’m on my means, Lord. I’m on my means. Amen,” Spencer stated when requested if he had any remaining phrases.
After a couple of minutes of labored respiratory, he ceased all actions.
The warden then shook Spencer and shouted his title a number of occasions with out a response. He was checked by a medic and pronounced useless.
Spencer was convicted in November 1992 of the first-degree homicide of his spouse, Karen Spencer. Her household didn’t launch a press release following his execution.
In response to Florida Division of Correction data relationship again to 1924, the oldest inmates beforehand executed by the state have been each 72 — Samuel Lee Smithers on Oct. 14, 2025, for the 1996 killings of two ladies, and R. Charlie Gifford on Feb. 21, 1951, for the 1950 taking pictures demise of state Rep. Charles Schuh Jr.
One other 74-year-old Florida inmate, Dennis Sochor, is scheduled to be executed on July 14 for his conviction within the killing of a lady simply hours after midnight on New Yr’s Day in 1982 after assembly her at a New Yr’s Eve social gathering.
The oldest individual executed in fashionable occasions within the US was Walter Leroy Moody Jr., 83, who was put to demise in Alabama in 2018, for sending mail bombs throughout a wave of Southern terror, killing a federal decide and a Black civil rights legal professional.
Spencer’s execution was the ninth in Florida thus far this 12 months.
In 2025, 19 folks have been put to demise in Florida, setting a file for essentially the most executions in a single 12 months within the Sunshine State.
Earlier than final 12 months, Florida’s file for executions in a 12 months for the reason that demise penalty was restored in 1976 was eight in 1984 and 2014.
Florida additionally executed extra folks final 12 months than every other state, with Alabama, Texas and South Carolina tied for the second-most with 5 every. Throughout the US, 47 folks have been executed in 2025.
Spencer was arrested after choking and threatening to kill his spouse, Karen, in December 1991.
As he was sitting in jail, he referred to as his spouse and warned her that he would end what he began when he was launched.
On Jan. 18, 1992, Spencer beat his spouse’s teenage son with a garments iron when the teenager tried to cease Spencer from attacking his mom, based on officers.
A few week later, the boy went to take a look at a commotion outdoors their dwelling and noticed Spencer hitting his mom within the head with a brick.
The teenager tried to shoot Spencer with a rifle, however the gun misfired. Spencer threatened the boy with a knife, and the boy ran away to seek for assist.
When police arrived, Spencer’s spouse was discovered useless with a number of stab wounds to the chest.
Spencer was initially sentenced to demise in 1992, after he was convicted of first-degree homicide, tried first-degree homicide, aggravated assault and aggravated battery.
Two years later, the Florida Supreme Court docket ordered his new sentencing after discovering that the trial courtroom had mishandled evaluating aggravating and mitigating circumstances.
Spencer was resentenced to demise the next 12 months, and subsequent appeals have been denied.
Final week, the state Supreme Court docket rejected Spencer’s appeals, and the US Supreme Court docket rejected a remaining attraction earlier on Thursday.
