Starke, Florida — A man sentenced for the 1989 murder of a traveling salesman is poised to become the first individual executed in Florida this year. Ronald Palmer Heath, 64, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection at Florida State Prison at 6 p.m. Heath’s conviction includes first-degree murder and robbery with a deadly weapon in the brutal killing of Michael Sheridan.
Heath’s execution marks the state’s first since it carried out a record 19 executions last year, a high not seen since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who took office in 2019, has overseen a surge in executions, surpassing previous records set in the state. This execution is indicative of a growing trend in capital punishment within Florida.
The chilling details of Sheridan’s murder reveal how Heath and his brother, Kenneth Heath, lured the salesman to a remote location under the pretense of socializing and using marijuana. Reports indicate that a plan to rob Sheridan unraveled violently when Kenneth pointed a gun at him. The situation escalated rapidly; after Sheridan resisted, Kenneth shot him, which was followed by a brutal beating and stabbing from Ronald, culminating in multiple gunshots to the head.
After the murder, the brothers disposed of Sheridan’s body in the woods and returned to the scene to loot his rental car. They subsequently made purchases using Sheridan’s credit cards, leading investigators to their arrest weeks later. Ronald was apprehended in Georgia, where authorities found evidence tied to the stolen cards, including clothing and an item belonging to Sheridan.
Kenneth Heath initially faced charges related to the murder but accepted a plea deal that resulted in a life sentence. In the case of Ronald, the Florida Supreme Court recently dismissed appeals arguing various points, including claims of mismanaged death penalty processes and concerns over the jury’s non-unanimous recommendation for the death sentence. His legal team is still pursuing additional appeals at the federal level.
In the larger context of capital punishment in the United States, 2025 witnessed 47 executions across the country, with Florida leading the pack. Other states, such as Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas, followed, executing five individuals each.
Looking ahead, Florida has scheduled more executions, including those of Melvin Trotter and Billy Leon Kearse later this month and into March. The executions are conducted via lethal injection, employing a combination of drugs designed to cause death humanely, a process that continues to encounter both legal and ethical debates.
As the execution date approaches, the case of Ronald Palmer Heath not only rekindles discussions around the death penalty but also reflects a significant chapter in Florida’s ongoing history with capital punishment.