Florida sets execution date for man convicted of killing a traveling salesman during a robbery

A man convicted of killing a traveling salesman during a robbery is set to become Florida’s first execution of 2026. A death warrant was signed Friday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who signed off on a record 19 executions last year. Ronald Palmer Heath is scheduled to die by lethal injection Feb. 10 at the Florida State Prison. DeSantis oversaw more executions in a single year in 2025 than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The previous record was set in 2014 with eight executions. Heath was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery with a death weapon and multiple forgery charges in 1990.