Why It Matters
Florida’s pace of capital punishment has drawn significant attention as the state continues an aggressive execution schedule. Tuesday’s lethal injection of James Aren Duckett marked the 11th execution carried out in Florida so far in 2026, and the first time the state put two inmates to death on the same day since 1964.
What Happened
Duckett, 68, was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke on Tuesday, following his 1987 conviction for the rape and murder of Teresa McAbee, who was 11 years old at the time of her death. Duckett was pronounced dead at 1:19 p.m.
The execution was delayed by more than an hour while prison officials awaited a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on stay requests filed by Duckett’s legal team. The Court ultimately denied those requests, clearing the way for the sentence to be carried out.
Duckett’s attorneys had maintained he was innocent and alleged the state had mishandled DNA testing related to the case. Those claims did not succeed in halting the execution.
Tracy McFall, a cousin of victim Teresa McAbee, said after the execution, “Justice has finally been done.”
Also executed Tuesday was Dominick Anthony Occhicone, making it the first time Florida had carried out two executions on the same day since 1964.
By the Numbers
68 — Duckett’s age at the time of his execution.
1987 — The year of the crime for which Duckett was convicted.
11th — Duckett’s place in Florida’s execution count for 2026 so far.
30 — Total Florida executions since January 2025, counting Duckett.
19 — Florida executions carried out in 2025 alone, a figure the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers described as “a record,” noting it was “more than double its previous modern-era record.”
31 — Executions overseen by Gov. Ron DeSantis over the past two years, including Tuesday’s.
Zoom Out
Florida’s execution rate has made it an outlier in the United States, where most death-penalty states carry out only a handful of executions per year — and many have effectively paused the practice. The state’s 2025 total of 19 executions was the highest recorded in Florida’s modern era and among the highest for any state in recent history.
The simultaneous execution of two inmates in a single day is itself a historical marker. Tuesday’s double execution was the first of its kind in Florida in more than six decades, reflecting both the volume of the state’s death row population and the current administration’s willingness to move through pending warrants at a swift pace.
Defense attorneys and civil liberties groups have raised concerns about the speed of the execution schedule, pointing to questions about DNA evidence handling in some cases as grounds for caution. Supporters of the executions, including victims’ families, have argued that the process has already been exhaustively reviewed by the courts.
What’s Next
Florida’s execution schedule shows no signs of slowing. A death warrant has already been signed for William Silvia, 61, with an execution date set for August 18. Silvia was convicted in connection with a 2006 crime. His case will likely face similar last-minute legal challenges as attorneys seek stays from state and federal courts.
With multiple warrants active or pending, Florida is on track to extend its modern-era record into 2026. Advocacy groups and defense attorneys are expected to continue pressing courts over procedural and evidentiary concerns as additional execution dates approach.