A 74-year-old Orange County man is set to be executed next week for murdering his wife 34 years ago. Dusty Ray Spencer would become the oldest person ever to be put to death in Florida’s modern history.Court records show Spencer had a violent history with his wife, Karen, before stabbing her to death in their backyard in 1992.Before the attack, Spencer had been briefly jailed, accused of domestic battery against his wife. While in jail, Spencer called his wife and told her he would kill her. Spencer’s spiritual advisor asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to stop the lethal injection, calling it a “nursing home execution.” Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said the state is enforcing the law. Spencer will be the ninth person executed this year in Florida. In 2025, Florida executed a record 19 inmates.
Florida —
A 74-year-old Orange County man is set to be executed next week for murdering his wife 34 years ago.
Dusty Ray Spencer would become the oldest person ever to be put to death in Florida’s modern history.
Court records show Spencer had a violent history with his wife, Karen, before stabbing her to death in their backyard in 1992.
Before the attack, Spencer had been briefly jailed, accused of domestic battery against his wife. While in jail, Spencer called his wife and told her he would kill her.
Spencer’s spiritual advisor asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to stop the lethal injection, calling it a “nursing home execution.”
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said the state is enforcing the law.
Spencer will be the ninth person executed this year in Florida.
In 2025, Florida executed a record 19 inmates.