On Tuesday, Florida became the first state in nearly a decade to execute two inmates on the same day. An 80-year-old man, one of the oldest in modern U.S. history to face execution, received a lethal injection shortly after a former police officer met the same fate for the murder of a young girl.
Busy Final Term for Governor DeSantis
Governor Ron DeSantis has expedited executions in Florida, emphasizing the need for justice. This marked the first near back-to-back executions since Arkansas executed two men three hours apart in 2017. DeSantis, authorized by Florida law to set execution dates, scheduled both on the same day.
The death penalty’s use had been on a two-decade decline nationwide, but Florida’s recent actions have increased the pace. Since the start of 2025, nearly half of all executions in the U.S. have occurred in Florida.
Details of the Executions
Dominick Anthony Occhicone, 80, died at 6:13 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke after receiving a three-drug injection. His execution happened nearly five hours after ex-officer James Aren Duckett, 68, was executed in the same chamber.
The execution room opened again for Occhicone’s scheduled 6 p.m. time. He lay on a gurney, an IV in his arm, with a spiritual adviser present. Occhicone expressed remorse to his family and victims, saying, “I never meant to do what I did.” The execution started at 6:02 p.m. and concluded with several minutes of deep breathing.
Occhicone was convicted for the 1986 murder of his ex-girlfriend’s parents, making him the oldest executed prisoner in Florida’s current records. Only one older, Walter Moody Jr., 83, faced execution in Alabama in 2018 for a series of fatal mail bombs in 1989.
Execution of a Former Officer
Earlier that afternoon, Duckett became the 11th execution in Florida this year. He was found guilty of raping and drowning 11-year-old Teresa McAbee while serving as a police officer in 1987. Duckett refrained from a final statement and reacted minimally during the execution, pronounced dead at 1:19 p.m.
The victim’s family expressed relief at Duckett’s execution. Dorthy Tula, the girl’s mother, stated, “I waited nearly 40 years to have him dead,” while the victim’s cousin lamented the abuse of his police position.
Record Numbers in DeSantis’ Term
The nation has witnessed 19 executions this year, including those on Tuesday. Florida alone has conducted 12 so far in 2026, surpassing all other states combined. Last year, DeSantis saw over 19 executions, a record for any Florida governor since the death penalty’s reintroduction in 1976. An August execution is forthcoming in Florida.
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty criticized the day’s double executions, viewing it as an “unprecedented escalation” of capital punishment. The group’s director, Grace Hanna, remarked on the disconnect with public opinion.
Many inmates have lingered on death row for decades. DeSantis has said little about his pace of scheduling executions. His stance is rooted in ensuring justice occurs without delay.
Historically, multiple executions on one day were common, last recorded in 1964. The U.S. and Florida Supreme Courts denied final appeals for both men. Florida performs executions using a sedative, paralytic, and heart-stopping drug.