A former police officer convicted of a heinous crime was executed in Florida. This marked a rare day with two scheduled executions in the state. James Aren Duckett, a former officer, was put to death by lethal injection. He was convicted of raping and drowning an 11-year-old girl in 1987.
The execution took place at Florida State Prison near Starke. Duckett was the 11th inmate executed by Florida this year. He declined to make a final statement, responding with a simple “no sir.” Four minutes into the procedure, the warden attempted to communicate with Duckett, but there was no response.
Another execution was scheduled for later in the day. Dominick Anthony Occhicone, 80 years old, was set to become Florida’s oldest inmate executed. He was convicted of killing two people in 1986. Legal teams for both men made appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court, which were unsuccessful.
The state of Florida, under Governor Ron DeSantis, has increased its pace of executions. Since the start of 2025, Florida executed nearly half of the nation’s total in that timeframe. DeSantis has overseen more executions in two years than any previous Florida governor.
This increase in executions has prompted criticism. Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty called for a halt to the executions. Their director, Grace Hanna, noted the broad use of capital punishment, which they argued is not in line with public sentiment.
Governor DeSantis cited justice for victims’ families as a driving factor. He noted the lengthy time some families have waited since the crimes were committed in the 1980s. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” he stated, affirming his commitment to the families affected.
For Occhicone, the execution marked another record. If carried out, he would be the second-oldest executed in modern U.S. history, following Walter Moody Jr. who was executed in Alabama at the age of 83.
This day of back-to-back executions was a significant occurrence in the history of Florida’s capital punishment. Executions conducted in quick succession have been rare since the death penalty’s reinstatement in 1976.
Governor DeSantis initially signed the death warrant for Duckett in February. However, delays due to DNA testing postponed it. The Florida Supreme Court eventually lifted the stay, and a new execution date was set.
Multiple executions on a single day were once more common, with the last occurrence on May 12, 1964. Today, such double executions in one state are a rarity.