Florida is preparing for a historic and controversial event this Tuesday as state officials schedule the executions of two men, Curt Anderson reported. This marks the first time in more than six decades that Florida will put multiple people to death within a single day. The double execution at Florida State Prison in Starke comes amid an accelerated pace of capital punishment under Governor Ron DeSantis’s administration, drawing national attention and sharp criticism from legal advocates.
Unprecedented Schedule Raises Legal Concerns
The state plans to execute James Duckett at noon, followed hours later by Dominick Occhicone. Both men are scheduled for lethal injection. Father Dustin Feddon, a Catholic priest who has visited prisoners on death row for over a decade, described the scheduling as a "rupture" to the system. He noted that executing two individuals within six hours of each other is unprecedented in recent history.
Advocates argue this compressed timeline increases stress on the execution process and raises the risk of complications. Maya Foa, CEO of Reprieve, an international nonprofit opposing the death penalty, stated that adding pressure to a system already conducting more executions than any other state "is asking for more problems." Both inmates have filed lawsuits seeking to halt their sentences, with one arguing the schedule could lead to botched executions.
Profiles of the Inmates
James Duckett, 63, is scheduled for execution at noon. He spent over three decades on death row after being convicted in 1987 of murdering 11-year-old Teresa McAbee. Court documents state that medical examiners determined she was sexually assaulted, strangled, and drowned. Circumstantial evidence included "comingling fingerprints" on Duckett’s patrol car and tire tracks matching his vehicle at the scene. The Florida Supreme Court recently cleared the way for his execution after DNA testing results were deemed inconclusive by defense attorneys.
Hours later, Dominick Occhicone, 80, is scheduled to be executed. He was convicted in 1987 of killing his former girlfriend’s parents, Raymond and Martha Artzner, in 1986 after she refused to speak with him. If carried out, Occhicone will become the oldest inmate ever executed in Florida, surpassing two men aged 74 who were put to death weeks ago. His attorneys recently argued that his age and health complications violate Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment, an argument rejected by the state Supreme Court.
Record Pace of Executions
The double execution highlights a significant shift in Florida’s approach to capital punishment. Under Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida executed 19 death row inmates in 2025, setting a record high that is more than double the state's previous modern-era record. The state has already put 10 prisoners to death this year alone.
Maria DeLiberato of the ACLU’s Capital Punishment Project described the current administration as "the most active death penalty administration we’ve ever seen." This acceleration contrasts with a national trend where executions have generally declined since peaking in 1999. However, Florida now accounts for more than half of all U.S. executions this year according to data from the Death Penalty Information Center.
Critics point out that Florida leads the nation in death row exonerations, with 30 people freed since 1973 after serving time for crimes they did not commit. While Governor DeSantis has previously stated he believes the death penalty is an appropriate punishment and a strong deterrent, advocates remain concerned about the moral implications of executing vulnerable elderly inmates.
