Man convicted of killing traveling salesman set for Florida execution

Ronald Palmer Heath, 64, is scheduled to receive lethal injection on Tuesday, the first in Florida this year.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Ronald Palmer Heath, 64, is set to be executed on Tuesday evening in Florida's first lethal injection of 2026. Heath was convicted in 1990 of first-degree murder, robbery with a deadly weapon, and other charges in the 1989 killing of traveling salesman Michael Sheridan.

Why it matters

Florida has seen a record number of executions in recent years, with 19 carried out in 2025 under Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, the most of any governor since the death penalty was reinstated in the U.S. in 1976. Heath's execution will be the first of 2026 in the state.

The details

According to court records, Heath and his brother Kenneth met Sheridan at a Gainesville bar in May 1989. The three men agreed to go smoke marijuana, but the Heath brothers then plotted to rob Sheridan. Ronald Heath drove them to a remote area, where Kenneth Heath pulled a gun on Sheridan. When Sheridan refused to give them anything, Kenneth shot him in the chest. Ronald Heath then kicked and stabbed Sheridan, and Kenneth shot him twice more in the head. The brothers dumped Sheridan's body and used his credit cards.

  • Heath is scheduled to be executed on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 6 p.m.
  • Heath was convicted in 1990 for the 1989 murder of Sheridan.

The players

Ronald Palmer Heath

A 64-year-old man convicted of first-degree murder, robbery with a deadly weapon, and other charges in the 1989 killing of traveling salesman Michael Sheridan.

Michael Sheridan

The traveling salesman who was killed by Ronald Palmer Heath and his brother Kenneth in 1989.

Kenneth Heath

Ronald Heath's brother, who was also involved in the murder of Michael Sheridan and received a life sentence as part of a plea deal.

Ron DeSantis

The Republican governor of Florida who oversaw a record 19 executions in the state in 2025, the most of any Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in the U.S. in 1976.

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What’s next

Two more Florida executions have already been scheduled for later this month and next month. Melvin Trotter, 65, is scheduled to die on Feb. 24, and the execution of Billy Leon Kearse, 53, is set to follow exactly a week later on March 3.

The takeaway

Heath's execution highlights Florida's continued use of the death penalty, with the state leading the nation in executions in recent years under Gov. DeSantis. The case also underscores the ongoing debate around capital punishment and its application, particularly in cases involving violent crimes.