Execution of William Reaves in Florida
Florida Board of Executive Clemency and Governor Ron DeSantis
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The United States sent William Reaves to war then failed to support the man who came home, a man who came home forever changed by his service.
The following is from our partners at Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty:
Mr. Reaves is a Vietnam combat veteran who returned home with PTSD and developed a severe substance use disorder. His jury never heard the full details of his combat experience or the trauma he carried home. His attorney had never tried a capital case and was required to proceed without co-counsel. The jury recommended death by a vote of 10–2.
His motion raises three central issues: newly discovered evidence of police corruption undermines the State’s key witness, Florida denied him meaningful participation in clemency, and lethal injection would expose him to severe pain and suffering.
William has never denied shooting Deputy Raczkoski, but a central question at trial was whether the shooting was premeditated. The state relied on the testimony of a man who first claimed that there was premeditation in William's actions. He later acknowledged that William was significantly impaired the night of the crime from drugs.
It should not come as a surprise to anyone but there is evidence that a drug dealer bribed the deputies to protect himself at the expense of testimony of the individual who testified against William. This resulted in testimony that suggested there was premeditation in William's actions rather than an understanding of his impairment that evening.
Join the Virtual Sit In
Call Gov. DeSantis at 850-717-9337 with the following message:
"Hi. My name is [your name]. I am calling to urge Gov. DeSantis to reverse course and halt all plans to execute William Reaves on October 20, 2026. Mr. Reeves is a Vietnam Veteran with post traumatic stress disorder and addiction issues brought about by self-medicating his mental illness. Please do not move forward with the execution of William Reaves."William Reaves is scheduled for execution in Florida on October 20, 2026, for the murder of Richard Raczkoski.
REGISTER FOR THE 10/20 VIRTUAL VIGIL BEGINNING AT 5PM ET.
This is already the 18th death warrant of 2026, following an unprecedented execution pace in 2025, when Florida led the nation with 19 executions. Florida is on track to exceed this tragic and dark record in 2026.
While most states have moved away from the death penalty, Florida is accelerating executions at an alarming rate. Each warrant signed underscores the state’s embrace of a punishment that is arbitrary, racially biased, and out of step with evolving standards of decency.
Please sign the petition asking Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida State Board of Executive Clemency to do everything within their power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case.
Sponsored by
To:
Florida Board of Executive Clemency and Governor Ron DeSantis
From:
[Your Name]
We are writing to you regarding William Reaves, who is scheduled for execution in Florida on October 20, 2026, for the murder of Richard Raczkoski.
Mr. Reaves is a Vietnam combat veteran who returned home with PTSD and developed a severe substance use disorder. His jury never heard the full details of his combat experience or the trauma he carried home. His attorney had never tried a capital case and was required to proceed without co-counsel. The jury recommended death by a vote of 10–2.
His motion raises three central issues: newly discovered evidence of police corruption undermines the State’s key witness, Florida denied him meaningful participation in clemency, and lethal injection would expose him to severe pain and suffering.
William has never denied shooting Deputy Raczkoski, but a central question at trial was whether the shooting was premeditated. The state relied on the testimony of a man who first claimed that there was premeditation in William's actions. He later acknowledged that William was significantly impaired the night of the crime from drugs.
We believe in accountability and have sympathy for the victim's family members, friends, and community. Their loss is tragic and unimaginable. But true justice and accountability do not require execution. A sentence of life without the possibility of parole protects society while also recognizing the human capacity for redemption and the role of childhood trauma in shaping adult behavior.
Florida’s record-breaking pace of executions is a moral and constitutional crisis. Each new warrant signed undercuts the rule of law, retraumatizes families, and moves us further from true justice.
We are concerned that while the vast majority of states with capital punishment continue on a downward trend of executions, Florida is going against this trend by resuming and increasing the frequency of executions - exceeding previous state records.
We, the undersigned, ask that you do everything within your power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case. By commuting his sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole, you will send a message that the State of Florida does not need the death penalty to be safer, and that it only serves to perpetuate the cycle of violence.
Thank you for your time and attention to this serious matter.