Florida Carries Out First Execution of 2026 for 1989 Murder Case
Ronald Palmer Heath, a 64-year-old convicted murderer, was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke, marking the state's first execution in 2026. Heath was declared dead approximately ten minutes after the administration of a three-drug cocktail, bringing a close to a case that has spanned nearly four decades.
Final Statement and Remorse
When asked by the warden for any final words, Heath offered a concise apology, stating: "I’m sorry. That’s all I can say. Thank you." This moment of remorse contrasted with Florida's 19 executions in the previous year, including that of David Joseph Pittman, who maintained his innocence until the end. Heath's execution proceeded after the insertion of an intravenous line into his arm, with the drugs administered shortly thereafter.
The 1989 Murder of Michael Sheridan
Heath was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery with a deadly weapon, and additional charges related to the killing of Michael Sheridan in May 1989. The incident began when Heath and his brother, Kenneth Heath, met Sheridan at a bar in Gainesville, Florida. After socialising, the trio agreed to relocate to smoke marijuana.
Prosecutors detailed that the brothers conspired to rob Sheridan during the outing. Ronald Heath drove the group to a secluded area, where Kenneth Heath produced a handgun and demanded Sheridan's belongings. When Sheridan initially resisted, Kenneth Heath shot him in the chest. As Sheridan complied by emptying his pockets, Ronald Heath assaulted him, kicking and stabbing him repeatedly with a hunting knife. Kenneth Heath then fired two shots into Sheridan's head, resulting in his death.
Aftermath and Arrest
The brothers disposed of Sheridan's body in a wooded location and returned to the Gainesville bar to pilfer items from his rental vehicle. Court records indicate they used Sheridan's credit cards for multiple purchases at a local shopping centre the following day. Ronald Heath was apprehended several weeks later at his residence in Douglas, Georgia, after investigators traced the stolen credit cards to him. Law enforcement recovered clothing bought with the cards and Sheridan's watch during the arrest.
Kenneth Heath faced charges for the murder as well but received a life sentence as part of a plea agreement. More than a dozen family members of Heath's victims were present to witness the execution, highlighting the prolonged impact of his crimes.
Broader Criminal History
Heath's criminal record extended beyond the 1989 murder. At age 16, he was convicted of killing teenager Michael Green, serving ten years in prison. Additionally, authorities discovered the body of Tony Hammett shortly after Sheridan's death, and Heath was charged with this killing, although the case never proceeded to trial.
Family Reactions and Legal Appeals
Following the execution, Thomas Sheridan, brother of Michael Sheridan, addressed the media, expressing that his family and the families of Green and Hammett had awaited this outcome for over thirty years. He remarked, "Tonight, Ronald Palmer Heath was released to the custody of his new parole officer. As far as I’m concerned, any forgiveness is between him and God."
The Florida Supreme Court rejected appeals from Heath's legal team just last week. His attorneys had raised several arguments, including claims of mismanagement in Florida's death penalty protocols, a secretive clemency process that allegedly violated due process, the impact of juvenile incarceration on brain development, and the lack of a unanimous jury recommendation for the death penalty.
