Starke, Florida — Florida carried out another execution Tuesday as William Frances Silvia, 61, was put to death for the 2006 shooting that killed his estranged wife and wounded his mother-in-law.
Silvia was pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m. inside the execution chamber at Florida State Prison near Starke after receiving a three-drug lethal injection.
The execution continues Florida’s aggressive use of capital punishment during Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ final term in office. The state has now carried out 13 executions in 2026, more than half of all executions conducted across the United States so far this year.
Silvia Gives Final Words Before Execution
Silvia was already strapped to a gurney with an IV inserted into his arm when the curtain to the death chamber opened at approximately 6 p.m.
A priest sat near his feet and prayed as the execution proceeded.
When asked whether he had any final words, Silvia apologized for what happened but continued to maintain that the shooting was accidental.
“I’m sorry all this happened. It was an accident. I never meant to hurt her.”
Silvia remained largely motionless with his eyes and mouth open as the lethal drugs began flowing.
Several minutes later, a prison warden shook him and repeatedly called his name but received no response. A medic later declared him dead.
2006 Shooting Ended Estranged Wife’s Life
Silvia was sentenced to death after being convicted of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder for the attack on his estranged wife, Patricia Silvia, and her mother, Betty Woodard.
Court records show that Silvia purchased a shotgun in 2006 before traveling to Woodard’s Orlando-area home, where Patricia had been living following the couple’s separation approximately two months earlier.
The family was reportedly gathered for a cookout when Silvia arrived.
Authorities said Silvia attempted to reconcile with his wife, but the effort was unsuccessful. He then returned to his truck, retrieved the shotgun and shot both women.
Patricia was killed, while Woodard survived the attack.
Family Says Patricia’s Life Was More Than Her Death
Patricia Silvia’s sister, Pamela Wyatt, said the shooting permanently changed the lives of everyone who loved Patricia.
Following the execution, Wyatt emphasized that while the punishment could not undo the loss, Patricia’s life should be remembered for more than the violence that ended it.
“Nothing that happens today can give us those stolen years. No execution can return Patricia to her children and give her the grandchildren she dreamed of knowing.”
Wyatt added that the day should serve as an opportunity to remember Patricia’s life rather than only the terrible crime that ended it.
Death Sentence Survived Years of Appeals
Silvia was initially sentenced to death following his 2008 trial.
He later received a new penalty phase, but the Florida Supreme Court reinstated his death sentence in 2018, citing his previous decision to waive post-conviction appeals.
His attorneys subsequently challenged the state’s handling of his legal representation.
They argued that the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel, the state agency responsible for representing death row prisoners, could not provide adequate assistance because it was simultaneously representing another death row inmate.
The Florida Supreme Court rejected the appeal, clearing the way for Silvia’s execution.
Florida Continues to Lead Nation in Executions
Florida’s execution total has continued to rise sharply.
The United States carried out 47 executions in 2025, with Florida accounting for 19, the highest number in the country and a state record since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976.
Florida also made national headlines in July after executing two prisoners on the same day, the first state to do so in nearly a decade.
The state has two additional executions scheduled for September.
Harold Gene Lucas, 74, is scheduled to be executed on September 1, while Daniel Owen Conahan Jr., 72, is scheduled to die on September 10.
Lucas was convicted of killing a 16-year-old girl and wounding two of her friends after she rejected his romantic advances. Conahan was convicted of kidnapping and strangling a man he had paid to pose for nude photographs and has also been suspected in other killings.
Florida carries out executions through lethal injection, using a sedative, a paralytic and a drug intended to stop the heart.
With Silvia’s execution complete, attention now turns to the two September dates as Florida continues its unusually active use of the death penalty.
What are your thoughts on Florida’s continued use of the death penalty? Do you believe executions provide justice for victims’ families? Share your opinion in the comments below.
