Florida executed two death row inmates on Tuesday, a former police officer convicted of murder and an 80-year-old man, in a single day. This marks the first time the state has carried out two executions on the same day since 2017 and is considered an "incredibly rare" occurrence by experts.
James Duckett, 68, and Dominick Occhione, 80, were put to death by lethal injection at the Florida State Prison near Starke. Both men were convicted of murders that occurred in the late 1980s.
Duckett, a former police officer, was found guilty in the 1987 murder of 11-year-old Teresa McAbee. According to the Tampa Bay Times, he maintained his innocence and had no last words before being pronounced dead at 1:19 p.m. His final meal consisted of eggs, grits, bacon, biscuits, and chocolate milk.
Occhione, who was convicted of murdering his former fiancée's parents, was executed five hours later. He apologized to the victims' families before his execution and was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m. He became the oldest known prisoner executed in Florida since record-keeping began a century ago. His last meal was eggplant parmesan, salad, garlic bread, and a Pepsi.
Governor Ron DeSantis has presided over an increase in executions in Florida, making the state's death chamber the busiest in the nation. Last year, Florida carried out 19 executions, more than any other state since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976. As of Tuesday's executions, Florida has carried out 12 of the 19 executions nationwide this year. Another execution is scheduled for August.
DeSantis has stated that "justice delayed is justice denied" and has emphasized ensuring that the justice system runs smoothly for victims' families. Families of Duckett's and Occhione's victims echoed this sentiment, with Teresa McAbee's mother stating she had waited nearly 40 years for Duckett's execution.
James Duckett Case
Teresa McAbee disappeared on May 11, 1987, while walking to a convenience store. Duckett, one of the town's police officers, was the last person seen with her. He claimed he had lectured her about being out past curfew and let her go, but her body was found the next morning, having been raped, strangled, and drowned. Suspicion fell on Duckett, and a jury found him guilty of murder. However, an FBI analyst's testimony regarding hair evidence was later discredited, and a jailhouse informant recanted her statement.
Duckett's legal team sought DNA testing in recent years, but appeals for further testing were denied, including a last-minute appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice Clarence Thomas denied the appeal without comment, allowing the execution to proceed. Relatives of Jeanifer Weldon, a 15-year-old girl whose unsolved murder has been linked to Duckett, were present at his execution, stating it brought them closure.
Dominick Occhione Case
Occhione was convicted of the 1986 murders of Raymond and Martha Artzner, the parents of his former fiancée, Anita Gerrety. Gerrety testified that Occhione had threatened her and her family. On the night of the murders, Occhione went to the Artzner home, disabled the phone line, and fatally shot Raymond Artzner when he came outside. He then broke into the house and shot Martha Artzner multiple times.
Occhione's defense argued that his alcohol abuse and mental state prevented him from forming intent to kill. However, a jury voted for the death penalty. The Artzner children released a statement after Occhione's execution, describing it as the end of a long and painful journey for their family.
Protests against the executions took place outside the Florida State Prison. Two executions in a single day are uncommon, with the last instance occurring in Arkansas in 2017 when two men were executed three hours apart.