Newz(AP) — Florida is set to become the first state in nearly a decade to carry out two executions in a single day, planning lethal injections Tuesday for an ex-police officer convicted of a young girl's murder and an octogenarian who would be the second-oldest inmate put to death in modern U.S. history.The planned injections come 18 months after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis began stepping up executions at a rate unseen in modern times in Florida.
Not since 2017 when Arkansas carried out two death sentences on the same day has a state planned back-to-back executions.Since the beginning of 2025, Florida has carried out nearly half of all the state executions in the U.S.James Aren Duckett, 68, is scheduled to die by lethal injection at noon at Florida State Prison near Starke, followed about six hours later by 80-year-old Dominick Anthony Occhicone, who also would become the oldest prisoner executed in Florida's modern history.Duckett was convicted of raping and drowning an 11-year-old girl while working as a police officer in a small central Florida city in 1987, and Occhicone was convicted of the 1986 killings of his ex-girlfriend’s parents.They would become Florida’s 11th and 12th inmates to be executed this year.The Florida Supreme Court denied appeals for both men last week. Duckett’s attorneys had asked for another stay, claiming that Duckett is innocent and that the state’s handling of the DNA evidence is the reason for the inconclusive results. Occhicone’s attorneys argued that several age-related ailments, including kidney and prostate problems, could make his execution especially painful, constituting cruel and unusual punishment.Both men still had appeals pending before the U.S.
Supreme Court.Record numbers for governor's final two yearsA Florida prison official said Tuesday morning that the department was confident in its readiness to carry out both executions.The governor hasn’t said why he scheduled two executions on the same day.DeSantis, who leaves office in January, oversaw a record 19 executions in 2025, more in a single year than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in the U.S. The previous high was eight executions set in 2014.Florida has executed 29 people since the beginning of 2025 while the rest of the U.S. states combined have carried out 35 executions over the same time frame.If Tuesday’…
The previous high was eight executions set in 2014.If Tuesday’s executions proceed, that would bring the total for DeSantis’ final two years in office up to 31 overall, compared to just nine executions during the first six years of his administration. Another execution is scheduled for August.DeSantis initially signed a de… Florida is set to become the first state in nearly a decade to carry out two executions in a single day, planning lethal injections Tuesday for an ex-police officer convicted of a young girl's murder and an octogenarian who would be the second-oldest inmate put to death in modern U.S.
DeSantis hasn't said why he scheduled two executions six hours apart, and Florida prison officials haven't said whether the timing creates any logistical challenges for staff.James Aren Duckett, 68, is scheduled to die by lethal injection at noon at Florida State Prison near Starke, followed later that day by 80-year-old Dominick Anthony Occhicone, who also would become the oldest prisoner executed in Florida's modern history.Duckett was convicted of raping and drowning an 11-year-old girl while working as a police officer in a small central Florida city in 1987, and Occhicone was convicted of the 1986 killings of his ex-girlfriends parents.Duckett and Occhicone would become Floridas 11th and 12th inmates to be executed this year if their sentences are carried out.The Florida Supreme Court denied appeals for both men last week. Supreme Court.Record numbers for governor's final two yearsDeSantis, who leaves office in January, oversaw a record 19 executions in 2025, more in a single year than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in the U.S. With another execution already set for August, 2026 could also be a record-breaking year.DeSantis initially signed a death warrant for Duckett in February, setting a March 31 execution date.
Another execution is scheduled for August.DeSantis initially si…
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