Florida death row inmate William Thompson spared from execution, 50 years after torture murder

One of Florida’s longest-serving death row inmates has been spared from execution amid reports he is suffering from dementia – 50 years after he was convicted of a torture murder. Florida Gov.Ron DeSantis withdrew William Thompson’s death warrant on Thursday – just five days before the 74-year-old killer’s scheduled execution for what cops at the time called Miami-Dade’s “meanest murder.”DeSantis didn’t explain why he withdrew Thompson’s death warrant in a letter he sent to Florida State Prison Warden Randall Polk, which has been viewed by The Post.

He had only signed the death warrant on Sept.11.But the withdrawal comes as reports say Thompson, who was Miami-Dade’s longest death row inmate, is suffering from dementia. Thompson was first put on death row in 1976 before his sentence was overturned, reimposed, and he was spared from execution twice in the 1980s.

He has been on death row since 1989.The Eighth Amendment spares death row inmates suffering from mental illnesses if the disease stops them from understanding why they are being put to death.Thompson’s attorney Brittney Lacy urged Florida Department of Corrections officials to rush the killer to a hospital as his health required “emergent medical care in an emergency petition on Sept.16, according to court documents seen by The Post.“He could not give counsel any details about his hospital stays,” Lacy said, revealing Thompson “appeared unaware.”Thompson reportedly “did not understand” what he was being asked when quizzed by doctors about his surgeries, according to the petition.He was examined by Florida neuropsychologist Robert Ouaou, who said Thompson “meets the criteria for insanity due to his dementia and significant cognitive decline.”He “lacks the mental capacity to understand the fact of his impending execution and the reason for it.”Thompson also told the doctor “he was in severe pain” and he was “too weak to freely move his arms or extremities,...