Florida executes 74-year-old for wife's murder, becoming oldest inmate put to death in state's modern history

A 74-year-old Florida man was executed on Thursday for his conviction in the 1992 fatal stabbing of his wife, making him the oldest inmate in modern state history to be put to death.

Dusty Ray Spencer was pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m., after officials executed him using a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke.

"Sorry, sorry to the family. Into thy hands I commit my spirit and my soul. I’m on my way, Lord. I’m on my way. Amen," Spencer said when asked if he had any final words.

After a few minutes of labored breathing, he ceased all movements. The warden then shook Spencer and shouted his name several times without a response. He was checked by a medic and pronounced dead.

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Spencer was convicted in November 1992 of the first-degree murder of his wife, Karen Spencer. Her family did not release a statement following his execution.

According to Florida Department of Correction records dating back to 1924, the oldest inmates previously executed by the state were both 72 — Samuel Lee Smithers on Oct. 14, 2025, for the 1996 killings of two women, and R. Charlie Gifford on Feb. 21, 1951, for the 1950 shooting death of state Rep. Charles Schuh Jr.

Another 74-year-old Florida inmate, Dennis Sochor, is scheduled to be executed on July 14 for his conviction in the killing of a woman just hours after midnight on New Year's Day in 1982 after meeting her at a New Year’s Eve party.

The oldest person executed in modern times in the U.S. was Walter Leroy Moody Jr., 83, who was put to death in Alabama in 2018, for sending mail bombs during a wave of Southern terror, killing a federal judge and a Black civil rights attorney.

Spencer's execution was the ninth in Florida so far this year.

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In 2025, 19 people were put to death in Florida, setting a record for the most executions in one year in the Sunshine State. Before last year, Florida's record for executions in a year since the death penalty was restored in 1976 was eight in 1984 and 2014.

Florida also executed more people last year than any other state, with Alabama, Texas and South Carolina tied for the second-most with five each. Across the U.S., 47 people were executed in 2025.

Spencer was arrested after choking and threatening to kill his wife, Karen, in December 1991. As he was sitting in jail, he called his wife and warned her that he would finish what he started when he was released.

On Jan. 18, 1992, Spencer beat his wife’s teenage son with a clothes iron when the teen attempted to stop Spencer from attacking his mother, according to officials.

About a week later, the boy went to check out a commotion outside their home and saw Spencer hitting his mother in the head with a brick.

The teen attempted to shoot Spencer with a rifle, but the gun misfired. Spencer threatened the boy with a knife, and the boy ran away to search for help. When police arrived, Spencer's wife was found dead with several stab wounds to the chest.

Spencer was initially sentenced to death in 1992, after he was convicted of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and aggravated battery.

Two years later, the Florida Supreme Court ordered his new sentencing after finding that the trial court had mishandled evaluating aggravating and mitigating circumstances. Spencer was resentenced to death the following year, and subsequent appeals were denied.

Last week, the state Supreme Court rejected Spencer’s appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a final appeal earlier on Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.