STARKE, FL – A 74-year-old Florida man is scheduled to be executed Thursday evening for the fatal stabbing of his wife more than three decades ago.
The Execution Details
Dusty Ray Spencer is scheduled to receive a three-drug lethal injection starting at 6:00 p.m. Thursday at the Florida State Prison near Starke. Spencer was convicted for the 1992 murder of his wife, Karen Spencer.
If carried out, this will mark Florida’s ninth execution of the year. This follows a record-breaking year in 2025, during which Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis oversaw 19 executions—the highest single-year total for any Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
History of the 1992 Crime
According to court records, the fatal incident followed a history of domestic violence. In December 1991, Spencer was arrested for choking and threatening his wife. While jailed, he called her to warn that he would “finish what he started” upon release.
On January 18, 1992, Spencer attacked his wife’s teenage son with a clothes iron when the boy attempted to protect his mother. Approximately one week later, the teenager discovered Spencer striking his mother with a brick outside their home.
The teen attempted to intervene with a rifle, but the firearm misfired. After Spencer threatened him with a knife, the boy fled to seek help. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered Karen Spencer dead with multiple stab wounds to her chest.
Appeals and Legal Background
Spencer was initially sentenced to death in 1992 following convictions for first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery. After the Florida Supreme Court ordered a new sentencing phase, he was resentenced to death in 1995.
Last week, the state Supreme Court rejected Spencer’s latest appeals. His defense attorneys argued that his advanced age and underlying health issues, including liver disease, would create a heightened risk of unconstitutional pain and suffering.
A final appeal remains pending before the U.S. Supreme Court ahead of the scheduled 6:00 p.m. execution time.
