William Reaves: October 20, 2026

On October 20, 2026 the State of Florida is scheduled to execute William Reaves for the 1986 murder of 29-year-old Indian River County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard Rudy Raczkoski.

In the early morning hours of September 23, 1986, Richard responded to a disconnected 911 call from a payphone outside a convenience store near Vero Beach, Florida. Within minutes, he had been shot four times.

William Reaves was a Vietnam War combat veteran whose life after military service had been marked by drug addiction and encounters with the criminal justice system. His case would raise questions about premeditation, cocaine intoxication, the psychological effects of combat, and the effectiveness of his legal representation.

This episode follows Richard’s life and final shift, the investigation into his murder, Reaves’s background and military service, two murder trials, and decades of appeals. It also examines the conflicting medical testimony, challenges to Florida’s death penalty procedures, and the final legal efforts surrounding his scheduled execution.

SOURCES

Reaves v. State, Florida Supreme Court, January 15, 1991 — reversal of the original conviction and death sentence.

Reaves v. State, Florida Supreme Court, April 7, 1994 — second trial, evidence, conviction, sentencing findings, and direct appeal.

Reaves v. State, Florida Supreme Court, June 20, 2002 — postconviction claims, trial counsel’s representation, and the voluntary-intoxication defense.

Reaves v. State, Florida Supreme Court, September 14, 2006 — evidentiary hearing, medical expert testimony, and ineffective-assistance claims.

Reaves v. Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, May 30, 2013 — federal review of the conviction and voluntary-intoxication defense.

Reaves v. Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, September 28, 2017 — federal review of sentencing-related ineffective-assistance claims.

Reaves v. State, Florida Supreme Court, May 2, 2018 — Hurst-related challenge to the nonunanimous death recommendation.

Reaves v. State and Reaves v. Secretary, Department of Corrections, Florida Supreme Court, October 14, 2026 — final state-court challenges, including mental-health evidence and execution-related claims.

Florida Commission on Capital Cases — William Reaves case history, trial dates, sentencing, and appeals.

Associated Press, October 19, 2026 — scheduled execution, military service, and recent clemency efforts.