# History of executions in Florida: From 'Old Sparky' to the current record
*Florida celebra 200 años desde su primera ejecución, marcando un cambio drástico en los métodos y la velocidad del sistema judicial penal.*

- Medio: Orlando Ledger News (https://orlandoledgernews.com)
- URL: https://orlandoledgernews.com/noticia/historia-de-las-ejecuciones-en-florida-de-old-sparky-al-record-actual
- Sección: Politics
- Autor: Orlando Ledger News Staff
- Publicado: 2026-07-25T07:04:53.783Z
> Florida marks two centuries since its first execution. The state has evolved from public hangings to lethal injections, setting a recent historical record.

## Las claves

- The death penalty in Florida has evolved from public hangings to lethal injections over nearly two centuries.
- Governor Ron DeSantis ordered nineteen executions in 2025 and fourteen more warrants by July 2026.
- Dominick Occhicone is scheduled for execution on July 28, 2026, marking a historic date.

The history of the death penalty in Florida spans nearly two centuries, marking a significant evolution from early public hangings to the modern use of lethal injections. The first known record of an execution in the state occurred in 1827, when Benjamin Donica was hanged for murder. This historical milestone approaches its bicentennial, coinciding with a period of unprecedented activity under Governor Ron DeSantis' administration.

### From local sheriffs to the state prison system

Initially, executions were the responsibility of county sheriffs before Florida built its first prison after the Civil War. In 1868, the state established its first penitentiary in Chattahoochee under Governor Harrison Reed's governance. The legislation changed the nature from military to civilian in 1878.

The transition toward more standardized methods continued with the opening of Raiford State Penitentiary (now Florida State Prison) in 1913, which became the main correctional center. However, it was in the early 1920s when the state formally adopted the electric chair. In 1922, inmates built the first oak chair, nicknamed "Old Sparky." Public hangings were abolished in 1823 and electrocution became the official method.

### The electrical era and modern controversies

Frank Johnson was the first person executed in Florida's electric chair in 1924. During this period, the state set frequency records; between 1941 and 1942, eleven executions were carried out each year. The death penalty suffered a significant pause when courts reviewed its constitutionality until it was restored following the Supreme Court decision in Gregg v. Georgia in 1976.

In the late twentieth century, several controversial electrocutions intensified public scrutiny. Testimony reported flames and severe burns during the executions of Jesse Tafero (1990), Pedro Medina (1997) and Allen Lee Davis (1999). In response to these controversies, Florida adopted lethal injection as the default method in 2000, as this newspaper reported in [Florida Executes Two Men in Historic Double Execution](/noticia/florida-executes-two-men-in-historic-double-execution).

### Current records and legal expansion

In recent years, Florida has drastically accelerated its pace of executions. In 2025, under Governor Ron DeSantis' orders, the state reached a historical record with 19 executions in a single year, a figure nearly four times higher than that of any other U.S. state that same year.

### The immediate future and legal challenges

As 2026 progresses, the pace remains steady. By July, DeSantis had issued fourteen more death warrants. The judicial system has faced appeals regarding transparency and "cruel and unusual" protocols. In June 2026, Dennis Ray Spencer was executed at age 74, setting a new state record for age.

#### Upcoming historic dates

The execution of Dominick Occhicone is scheduled for July 28, 2026; he would be 80 years old. If confirmed, it would be the oldest person executed in Florida history. Additionally, James Duckett is scheduled for the same day, marking the first time the state carries out multiple executions on a single day in 62 years.
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Fuente original: https://orlandoledgernews.com/noticia/historia-de-las-ejecuciones-en-florida-de-old-sparky-al-record-actual