Execution: Florida Puts Ronald Palmer Heath To Death For 1989 Murder

Several big updates hit the true crime world this week outside of the Nancy Guthrie case. And one of those included the fact that Florida officially carried out its first execution for 2026 on Tuesday, February 10. Read on for more details.

Who Was Executed?

The person executed in Florida was 64-year-old Ronald Palmer Heath. It took place at the Florida State Prison in Raiford. Not surprisingly, the death happened after the administration of a lethal injection.

His crime? Well, back in 1989, he murdered Michael Sheridan, a traveling salesman. Additionally, in 1977, he was found guilty of murdering Michael Green, (18) in Jacksonville, Florida.

Why wasn’t he in prison in 1989? Well, although he was sentenced to 30 years for the crime he committed at the age of 16, he was released in 1988 after serving just over 10 years.

Another murder case close to the death of Michael Sheridan was dropped when his brother refused to testify against him. So, Ronald was a serial killer. 

The Murder Details That Ended His Life

It’s been 37 years since a robbery turned into a murder in Gainesville. Reportedly, Ronald and his brother Kenneth Heath met Sheridan at a bar called the “Purple Porpoise Lounge.” Later, they lured him to a remote area.

According to Fresh Take Florida, Ronald stabbed the victim in the neck with a hunting knife while Kenneth shot him. Interestingly, Kenneth received a life sentence, but Ronald faced the death penalty. That’s because a jury believed that he “controlled and dominated” his brother during the crime.

As you can expect, the disparity between the sentences resulted in a flurry of last-minute legal appeals. Not that they helped, because the state executed him anyway. The outlet noted that his last words were: “I’m sorry. That’s all I can say. Thank you.”

No Last Minute Rituals

Additionally, he didn’t partake in any last-minute rituals like a special meal or spiritual counseling. The process started at 6 p.m. and by 6:12 p.m. officials pronounced him dead. So, it seemed to be a flawless operation.

Sheridan’s family members attended the execution, and after it happened, they spoke with the media. Of interest, the brother of the victim, Thomas Sheridan, thanked Governor Ron DeSantis for signing the death warrant.

Happy with the outcome, he said that it represented “dogged determination” and finally served justice for his brother. Clearly, the family felt a sense of relief after waiting over 35 years for this moment.

More Executions To Come

Notably, the latest execution reveals a rising trend in capital punishments being carried out. Last year, the state carried out 19 of them.

True crime fans might be interested to know that more executions are scheduled for the near future. Governor DeSantis already signed warrants for two more inmates. Melvin Trotter faces execution on February 24, and Billy Leon Kearse also undergoes lethal injection on March 3.

Ahead of his death date, Trotter recently filed a petition with the Florida Supreme Court. In it, he challenged the state’s lethal injection records. Whether that makes any difference to the outcome isn’t clear because it seems that Florida isn’t showing any signs of slowing down and thinking about leniency.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below, and come back here for all your true crime news and updates. Plus, we do have a crime channel on TikTok which you can follow on this link.