Ron DeSantis set a new record in 2025 that had Democrat elites foaming at the mouth.
The Florida Governor didn't apologize for protecting innocent lives.
And Ron DeSantis just signed the first death warrant of 2026 for a brutal 1989 murder that left the victim unrecognizable.
DeSantis Signs Death Warrant for Heinous 1989 Murder
Governor Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant for Ronald Palmer Heath, 64, who was convicted of murdering traveling salesman Michael Sheridan in one of the most brutal killings in Gainesville history.
Heath is scheduled to die by lethal injection on February 10 at Florida State Prison.
The execution marks the first of 2026 after DeSantis oversaw a record-breaking 19 executions in 2025.
That's more than any Florida governor in a single year since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
The previous record was eight executions in 2014.
Liberal activists whined about DeSantis's aggressive use of capital punishment.
DeSantis won't lose sleep over executing cold-blooded killers.
https://twitter.com/death_row0506/status/2009850876144562422?s=20
A Savage Murder
May 24, 1989, Michael Sheridan walked into the Purple Porpoise Lounge in Gainesville and made a fatal mistake.
He bought drinks for Ronald Heath and his brother Kenneth.
Asked if they wanted to smoke some marijuana.
That act of kindness got him murdered.
The Heath brothers saw an easy mark and plotted to rob him right there in the bar.
They lured Sheridan to an isolated spot in Alachua County to "smoke together."
Kenneth Heath pulled a gun and demanded Sheridan's wallet.
When Sheridan refused to hand anything over, Kenneth shot him once in the chest.
But the brothers weren't done.
As Sheridan emptied his pockets, Ronald Heath kicked and stabbed the dying man with a hunting knife.
Heath tried to slit Sheridan's throat but the knife was too dull.
So he sawed at Sheridan's neck instead.
Kenneth Heath then shot Sheridan twice in the head to make sure he was dead.
The brothers dumped Sheridan's body deeper into the woods and burned his rental car to cover their tracks.
The next day, they went on a shopping spree using Sheridan's stolen credit cards at a Gainesville mall.
Store clerks remembered Heath's face from the shopping spree.
Police tracked him down weeks later at his trailer in Douglas, Georgia.
They found Sheridan's watch sitting right there.
Along with clothes and other items bought with the dead man's stolen credit cards.
https://twitter.com/FLDeathPenalty/status/2009790435896545456?s=20
Career Criminal With No Regard For Human Life
Here's what makes this even worse.
Heath had already murdered someone before he killed Sheridan.
He'd been out of prison for six months.
Six months.
He was serving a 30-year sentence for a second-degree murder conviction from 1977.
Heath was just 16 years old when he committed that first murder.
He served 10 years before being released.
Less than a year later, he murdered another person.
Investigators also suspect Heath committed a third murder in the Jacksonville area around the same time he killed Sheridan.
Heath was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery with a firearm, and 16 forgery-related counts in 1990.
His brother Kenneth Heath was also charged with Sheridan's murder but received a plea deal for life in prison.
Heath's attorneys are expected to file appeals to the Florida Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court.
But Florida has been carrying out executions at a rapid pace under DeSantis.
Florida led the nation in executions during 2025 as 47 people were put to death across the entire United States.
DeSantis shows no signs of slowing down.
Florida's final execution of 2025 came on December 18 when the state put to death Frank Athen Walls, who murdered a man and his girlfriend during a home invasion robbery.
DeSantis ran for President promising to be tough on crime and unapologetic about using the death penalty.
He's keeping that promise as Governor.
Liberals can complain all they want about DeSantis's execution record.
But crime victims' families finally have a Governor who delivers justice instead of making excuses for monsters.
Ronald Heath had 37 years to think about what he did to Michael Sheridan.
On February 10, he'll finally pay the price.
Sources:
- Staff Report, "Governor DeSantis signs death warrant for Ronald Palmer Heath," Alachua Chronicle, January 9, 2026.
- WCJB Staff, "Governor DeSantis signs first death warrant of 2026," WCJB, January 9, 2026.
- Associated Press, "Florida sets execution date for man convicted of killing a traveling salesman," ABC News, January 9, 2026.
