James Aren Duckett Executed in Florida as State Prepares for Second Same-Day Execution
James Aren Duckett was executed Tuesday at Florida State Prison in Raiford, marking the first time in over 60 years that the state has performed two executions on a single day. Duckett, a former police officer, was put to death via lethal injection for the 1987 rape and murder of 11-year-old Teresa McAbee. His execution followed a last-minute appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which was denied, despite his team's claims that he remained innocent. Following Duckett's death, the administration of Governor Ron DeSantis is scheduled to execute Dominick Anthony Occhicone at 6 p.m. If successful, the 80-year-old Occhicone will become the oldest prisoner executed in modern Florida history. The administration has significantly accelerated the pace of executions, carrying out 19 deaths in 2025 alone. While advocates argue the compressed timeline risks complications, the administration maintains that the death penalty serves as an appropriate punishment for the worst offenders and ensures justice for victims' families who have waited decades for a resolution.