Florida to Execute Ronald Heath for 1989 Murder

Heath, 64, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Tuesday for the murder of a 30-year-old traveling salesman.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Ronald Heath, 64, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Tuesday, Feb. 10, for the murder of a 30-year-old traveling salesman named Michael Sheridan in 1989. Prosecutors say Heath also killed a 26-year-old man during a robbery just days after Sheridan's murder, and was convicted of killing an 18-year-old in 1977.

Why it matters

Heath's execution will be the second in the U.S. this year and the first in Florida, which put far more inmates to death last year than any other state. The case highlights the ongoing debate around the death penalty, particularly for crimes committed by minors.

The details

Heath confessed to repeatedly stabbing 18-year-old Michael Green in 1977 when he was 16 years old. In 1989, Heath and his younger brother Kenneth befriended 30-year-old traveling salesman Michael Sheridan, then drove him to a remote location, robbed him, and killed him. Two days later, the brothers killed 26-year-old Anthony Hammett. Though Ronald Heath was charged with Hammett's murder, prosecutors dropped the case when Kenneth refused to testify against his brother again.

  • On December 17, 1977, Heath killed 18-year-old Michael Green.
  • On May 24, 1989, Heath and his brother killed 30-year-old Michael Sheridan.
  • Two days after Sheridan's murder, Heath and his brother killed 26-year-old Anthony Hammett.
  • Ronald Heath is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

The players

Ronald Heath

A 64-year-old Florida death row inmate who became a murderer at the age of 16 and is believed to have killed three men.

Michael Sheridan

A 30-year-old traveling salesman from Atlanta who was murdered by Ronald Heath and his brother in 1989.

Anthony Hammett

A 26-year-old man who was killed by Ronald Heath and his brother just two days after they murdered Michael Sheridan.

Michael Green

An 18-year-old who was murdered by Ronald Heath in 1977 when Heath was 16 years old.

Kenneth Heath

Ronald Heath's younger brother, who was involved in the murders of Michael Sheridan and Anthony Hammett.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Where Kenneth is weak, Ronald is strong.”

— Judge Robert Cates (Archived news reports)

“His ultimate judgment is before God, and I mean this sincerely, I'm just glad I had a hand in it.”

— Thomas Sheridan, Brother of victim Michael Sheridan (WSYR-TV)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Ronald Heath's execution to proceed.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate around the death penalty, particularly for crimes committed by minors, and the lasting impact on victim families decades after the crimes occurred.