Florida
Florida Executes Former Police Officer as State Prepares for Second Execution Today
Gov. Ron DeSantis, who broke national records last year with 19 executions, is racing to exceed that total as he finishes out his last year in office. The post Florida puts killer ex-cop to death, plans second execution later today…
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Key points
- James Duckett executed for the murder of an 11-year-old girl, first of two executions today.
- Dominick Occhicone’s execution scheduled for later today, making him the oldest executed in Florida since reinstatement.
- Florida’s execution rate has surged under Governor DeSantis, raising concerns about the implications of double executions.
NewsWK — Florida State Prison made headlines on July 28 as it executed James Duckett, a former police officer convicted of the 1987 kidnapping, rape, and murder of 11-year-old Teresa Mae McAbee. This execution marks the first of two scheduled for the same day, a significant event as it is the first double execution in Florida in over six decades.
Duckett’s execution took place after the U.S. Supreme Court denied his last-minute appeal. At 1:04 p.m., Duckett was strapped to a gurney, covered by a white sheet, and asked if he had any final words to share, to which he responded, “No, sir.” The execution proceeded with the administration of a lethal injection.
Witnesses, which included family members of the victim, observed the execution in silence. Duckett was pronounced dead at 1:18 p.m. A second execution is scheduled for later today at 6 p.m., involving 80-year-old Dominick Occhicone, who was convicted of the 1986 murders of Raymond and Martha Artzner.
This unprecedented double execution comes amidst a broader trend in Florida under Governor Ron DeSantis, who has already signed his 13th death warrant this year alone. The state is on track to exceed last year’s record of 19 executions, substantially outpacing other states with active death penalty protocols.
Legal challenges to the executions have been dismissed, with a U.S. district court stating that scheduling multiple executions on the same day serves the state’s interests in administering justice. Critics of capital punishment have voiced concerns over this accelerated pace, with some organizations planning vigils in opposition.
Florida’s execution protocol has faced scrutiny in the past, with reports highlighting issues regarding the administration of lethal injections. However, no changes to the procedure have been made in light of these concerns.
As this situation unfolds, it raises questions about the future of capital punishment in Florida and the ethical implications of executing multiple individuals in a single day.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Based on reporting by Oishika Neogi originally published by The Florida Trib. Read the original story.
