The State of Florida executed 80-year-old Dominick Occhicone tonight at Florida State Prison, completing the state’s first same-day double execution in over six decades. This historic event followed the noon execution of James Duckett earlier on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. The dual executions mark a significant milestone in modern American capital punishment history, occurring for the first time since 1964 when Blake Emmett and Dawson Sie were executed by electric chair.
Legal Context and Final Appeals
Occhicone was put to death by lethal injection for the 1986 murder of Martha Artzner in Pasco County. A jury had recommended a death sentence by a non-unanimous vote of 7-5, though he also received life imprisonment for the murder of her husband, Raymond Artzner. The Florida Supreme Court unanimously rejected Occhicone’s final appeals earlier this week, denying stays based on his advanced age, failing physical health, reported shortages of lethal injection drugs, and the non-retroactivity of current jury voting standards.
Reactions from Defense and Officials
Following the execution, defense representatives released a statement highlighting Occhicone’s advanced age, family reconciliation, and Catholic faith. They noted that his 7-5 jury recommendation would not qualify for death under present-day Florida law, which requires at least eight jurors. Conversely, State Attorney Bill Gladson stated after Duckett’s execution that "justice has been administered" for the victim's family. Duckett was convicted in the 1987 rape and murder of 11-year-old Teresa Mae McAbee.
Historical Significance
Occhicone became the oldest person executed in modern Florida history and the second-oldest put to death in the United States since 1976. Executive clemency has not been granted in a Florida capital case since 1983. The simultaneous nature of these executions places an emotional burden on prison personnel, according to defense statements criticizing the state's scheduling.
