Molly Ayala
The electric chair, also known as Old Sparky, was the sole means of execution in Florida from 1924 until 2000, when the Florida State Legislature, under pressure from the U.S. Supreme Court, signed lethal injection into law. Despite this, Florida is one of eight states, mostly in the South, that have kept the electric chair as a form of capital punishment. Inmates in Florida have 30 days after the state Supreme Court affirms their death sentence to request electrocution, otherwise, the state defaults to lethal injection.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nickname of the electric chair in Florida | Ol' Sparky |
| Year electric chair became the sole means of execution in Florida | 1924 |
| Year Florida signed lethal injection into law | 2000 |
| Year of the last execution by electric chair in Florida | 1999 |
| Year of the last pre-Furman execution in Florida | 1964 |
| Florida's death penalty law | Partially struck down by the United States Supreme Court in 2014 |
| Florida's death row inmate who demanded execution by electric chair | Wayne Doty |
| Year of the demand by Wayne Doty | 2019 |
| Year of the first execution after the Gregg v. Georgia decision | 1979 |
| Year of the first execution by electric chair | 1947 |
| States that reserve the electric chair as an option for execution | Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Tennessee |
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What You'll Learn
Florida's electric chair is nicknamed 'Ol' Sparky'
Florida's electric chair has been nicknamed "Ol' Sparky". The chair has three legs and has been idle for 16 years, after a second botched execution forced the Legislature and then-Gov. Jeb Bush to change the method of execution to lethal injection. The electric chair was the sole means of execution in Florida from 1924 until 2000, when the Florida State Legislature, under pressure from the U.S. Supreme Court, signed lethal injection into law. Although no one has been executed in this manner since 1999, prisoners awaiting execution on Florida's death row may still be electrocuted at their request.
The electric chair was first adopted in the United States in 1897, and soon became the prevalent method of execution, replacing hanging. It was initially thought to cause death through cerebral damage, but it was scientifically established in 1899 that death primarily results from ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest. Despite its historical significance in American capital punishment, electric chair use has declined with the adoption of lethal injection, which is perceived as more humane.
Florida's "Ol' Sparky" has a history of malfunctions. In 1990, during the execution of Jesse Tafero, his face and head caught fire. In 1997, during the execution of Pedro Medina, a mask covering his face caught fire and filled the death chamber with smoke. In 1999, during the execution of Allen Lee "Tiny" Davis, blood appeared on his face and shirt as 2,300 volts of electricity coursed through his 350-pound body. These incidents incited outrage and raised the question of whether the use of the electric chair was "cruel and unusual punishment".
In 2019, a Florida prison inmate named Wayne Doty became the first in nearly two decades to demand execution by electric chair rather than lethal injection. Doty had been on death row since 2011 for killing a fellow inmate. He wanted to die immediately, partly to attain "spiritual freedom".
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Lethal injection is the default method of execution in Florida
In 2019, a Florida inmate demanded execution by the electric chair, which had not been used in the state for 16 years. Lethal injection was made the default method of execution in Florida in 2000, with the electric chair becoming a secondary option based on the condemned's preference. Florida's electric chair, nicknamed "'Ol' Sparky", was the sole means of execution in the state from 1924 until 2000. The electric chair was the subject of strong controversy in the 1990s after three executions were labelled as "botched" by opponents. During the 1999 execution of Allen Lee "Tiny" Davis, blood appeared on his face and shirt as 2,300 volts of electricity coursed through his 350-pound body.
Inmates in Florida may choose lethal injection or electrocution, and the state is one of eight, mostly in the South, that have kept the electric chair as a form of capital punishment. Lethal injection is the preferred means of execution in all states, although drug manufacturers resist providing the drugs needed. Florida's lethal injection protocol includes a sedative, followed by a paralytic, then a drug that will stop the heart. The paralytic rocuronium bromide has been criticised as it paralyses the person being executed, meaning those administering it would not be able to tell if the sedative wears off.
In March 2025, a bill was proposed to allow executions by firing squad or nitrogen gas if lethal injection is unavailable. Nitrogen hypoxia is a form of execution in which inmates are deprived of oxygen until they breathe only nitrogen, causing asphyxiation. Florida executed more inmates (28) during Governor Rick Scott's tenure (2011-2019) than had been executed under any other governor in the state's history.
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Inmates can choose to be executed by electric chair
Florida's electric chair, known as "Ol' Sparky", is located at Florida State Prison on the outskirts of Starke. It was the sole means of execution in Florida from 1924 until 2000, when the Florida State Legislature, under pressure from the U.S. Supreme Court, signed lethal injection into law. Inmates can choose to be executed by electric chair if lethal injection is found unconstitutional.
In 2019, a Florida death row inmate, Wayne Doty, became the first in nearly two decades to demand execution by electric chair. Doty, who had been on death row since 2011 for killing a fellow inmate, wanted to die immediately, partly to attain "spiritual freedom". He also wanted to avoid the possibility of lethal injection being found unconstitutional.
Florida has a history of botched executions, including three highly controversial ones in the 1990s. In 1990, during the execution of Jesse Tafero, his face and head caught fire. In 1997, during the execution of Pedro Medina, who had come to Florida from Cuba during the 1980 Mariel boatlift, a mask covering his face caught fire and filled the death chamber with smoke. In 1999, during the execution of triple murderer Allen Lee "Tiny" Davis, blood appeared on his face and shirt as 2,300 volts of electricity coursed through his 350-pound body. These incidents contributed to the debate over Florida's adherence to electrocution and the international debate over capital punishment in general.
As of 2024, the only U.S. states that still reserve the electric chair as an option for execution, apart from Florida, are Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Electrocution is also authorized in Mississippi and Oklahoma if lethal injection is found unconstitutional. Inmates in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee who were sentenced before a certain date can choose to be executed by electric chair. In Tennessee, the electric chair can be used if lethal injection drugs are unavailable. In South Carolina, electrocution is the primary method, but inmates can choose lethal injection or a firing squad.
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The electric chair was the sole means of execution in Florida from 1924 to 2000
The electric chair was the only method of execution in Florida from 1924 until 2000. During this period, it was known for frequent malfunctions, with three highly controversial botched electrocutions in the 1990s. In 1990, Jesse Tafero's face and head caught fire during his execution. In 1997, flames burst from Pedro Medina's head, and in 1999, blood appeared on Allen Lee Davis's face and shirt as he was electrocuted. These incidents raised the question of whether the use of the electric chair was "'cruel and unusual punishment".
After the Medina execution, the Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth commented, "People who wish to commit murder, they'd better think about how the victim feels, because it's not pleasant". However, despite the flames, Medina's execution was reportedly painless. An autopsy found that he had died instantly when the first surge of electricity destroyed his brain and brain stem.
In 2000, the Florida State Legislature, under pressure from the U.S. Supreme Court, signed lethal injection into law as the primary means of execution. Lethal injection was perceived as more humane. However, prisoners awaiting execution on Florida's death row may still request to be electrocuted. In 2019, Wayne Doty, a Florida prison inmate, became the first in nearly two decades to demand execution by electric chair rather than lethal injection.
As of 2025, electrocution remains an option in Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
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Florida's electric chair has been idle since 1999
Florida's electric chair, nicknamed "Ol' Sparky", has been idle since 1999. It was last used in the execution of triple murderer Allen Lee "Tiny" Davis, during which 2,300 volts of electricity coursed through his 350-pound body. This execution caused outrage when witnesses saw his white shirt rapidly turn red with blood, which was later determined to be from a profuse nosebleed, likely caused by an improperly fitted head strap. Photographs of Davis' bloody body strapped in the chair were published and became key evidence in several cases challenging the constitutionality of the electric chair.
Florida's electric chair was the sole means of execution in the state from 1924 until 2000, when the Florida State Legislature, under pressure from the U.S. Supreme Court, signed lethal injection into law. Although no one has been executed by the electric chair since 1999, prisoners awaiting execution on Florida's death row may still be electrocuted at their request. The electric chair was the subject of controversy in the 1990s, with three executions labelled as "botched" by opponents: Jesse Tafero in 1990, Pedro Medina in 1997, and Allen Lee Davis in 1999. During the Medina execution, a mask covering his face caught fire and filled the death chamber with smoke.
In 2019, Florida death row inmate Wayne Doty became the first person in nearly two decades to request execution by electric chair rather than lethal injection. Doty, who had been on death row since 2011 for killing a fellow inmate, said that he wanted to die immediately, partly to attain "spiritual freedom". He also pointed to issues surrounding lethal injection, such as a shortage of lethal injection drugs and repeated legal challenges. Doty's request was granted, and if his execution is carried out, he will become the first Florida inmate executed by electrocution since the 2000 law was signed by former governor Jeb Bush allowing inmates to choose their method of execution.
As of 2024, Florida is one of eight states that still reserve the electric chair as an option for execution, including Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Florida's preference, however, is lethal injection, and the electric chair has not been used in the state since 1999.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Florida still uses the electric chair, also known as "Ol' Sparky", as a form of capital punishment. However, lethal injection is the default method of execution.
The electric chair was initially thought to cause death through cerebral damage, but it was scientifically established in 1899 that death primarily results from ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, Florida has executed 90 inmates, second only to Texas, Oklahoma, and Virginia.
Yes, in Florida, inmates have 30 days after the state Supreme Court affirms their death sentence to request electrocution; otherwise, the state defaults to lethal injection.
