Florida Executes Oldest Inmate in State During Historic Day
Wertynews.com – Florida executes oldest inmate in state on Tuesday, marking a historic moment as the Sunshine State carried out two capital punishments within hours of each other. The dual executions represent the first time in nearly a decade that Florida has put two prisoners to death on the same day, reinforcing the state’s position as America’s most active execution ground under Governor Ron DeSantis.
Octogenarian’s Final Moments at Florida State Prison
Dominick Anthony Occhicone, aged 80, received his lethal injection at 6:13 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke. He became the second-oldest person to face a lethal injection in modern U.S. history, trailing only Walter Moody Jr., who was 83 when Alabama executed him in 2018 for mail bombs that killed a federal judge and wounded a civil rights lawyer.
Convicted in 1986 for the murders of his ex-girlfriend’s parents, Occhicone holds the distinction of being the oldest prisoner executed in Florida since the state began keeping detailed records about a century ago. His death came approximately five hours after former police officer James Aren Duckett was put to death in the same chamber.
“I know it don’t mean much, but I’m sorry,” Occhicone told the room. “I never meant to do what I did.”
During his final statement, Occhicone expressed gratitude to Christian visitors who had supported him over the years and offered apologies to both his family and the relatives of his victims. The injection began at 6:02 p.m., and after several minutes of breathing, prison officials shook him and called his name without receiving any response.
Former Officer’s Execution Preceded by Decades of Waiting
Earlier that afternoon, 68-year-old James Aren Duckett became Florida’s eleventh execution of 2026. The former law enforcement officer was convicted of raping and drowning 11-year-old Teresa McAbee in 1987 while working as a police officer in central Florida.
Duckett offered no final words, simply answering “no sir” when questioned. Prison staff shook him and called out his name minutes into the procedure, but he remained unresponsive. He was declared dead at 1:19 p.m.
“I waited nearly 40 years to have him dead,” Dorthy Tula, the victim’s mother, said before becoming emotional.
“This man took advantage of his badge,” added Tracy Mcfall-Buskirk, the girl’s cousin.
DeSantis Drives Record-Breaking Execution Pace
While the death penalty has been declining nationally for twenty years, Florida has bucked that trend under DeSantis’s leadership. Since January 2025, the state has accounted for nearly half of all executions carried out across the United States. With Tuesday’s pair, the national total for 2026 stands at nineteen.
Florida has now completed twelve executions in 2026, exceeding the combined total of every other state. DeSantis, who leaves office in January, presided over nineteen executions last year—the highest single-year total for any Florida governor since capital punishment was restored in 1976.
The back-to-back deaths marked the first nearly simultaneous executions since Arkansas put two men to death three hours apart in 2017. Under Florida law, DeSantis holds the power to set execution dates and chose earlier this month to schedule both sentences for the same day.
Opposition Groups Challenge the Acceleration
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty called on the governor to halt both executions, describing the dual deaths as an “unprecedented escalation” of capital punishment in the state.
“Florida continues to expand the use of capital punishment, despite mounting evidence that it is not what Floridians want,” said executive director Grace Hanna.
DeSantis has not publicly detailed his reasoning for scheduling the executions so close together, nor does he frequently comment on execution frequency. He has previously noted that several death row inmates committed their crimes during the 1980s.
“Justice delayed is justice denied. I felt I owed it to them to make sure this ran very smoothly,” the governor explained last year.
Florida Department of Corrections data shows that numerous inmates have spent decades awaiting their sentences. Another execution is planned for August, signaling that Florida’s accelerated pace under DeSantis will continue well into the future.
