STARKE, Fla. — Florida executed two men on Tuesday at the Florida State Prison near Starke, marking the first time since 2017 that a state has carried out nearly back-to-back lethal injections. The executions of James Aren Duckett and Dominick Anthony Occhicone were scheduled by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis to address long-standing cases for victims' families. This event makes Florida the nation's busiest death chamber as the governor approaches the end of his final term.
Back-to-Back Executions in Starke
The executions occurred just hours apart at the same facility. Duckett, a former police officer convicted of killing an 11-year-old girl in 1987, was pronounced dead at 1:19 p.m. Hours later, Occhicone, who was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend's parents in 1986, received a lethal injection that began at 6:02 p.m.
Occhicone, an octogenarian, became the second-oldest inmate known to receive a lethal injection in modern U.S. history. Before the procedure, he apologized to his family and the victims' families, stating, "I never meant to do what I did." Duckett declined to make a final statement during his execution.
Record Pace Under DeSantis
Governor Ron DeSantis has accelerated Florida's use of capital punishment. Since 2025 began, the state has carried out nearly half of all U.S. executions. With Tuesday’s events, Florida conducted 12 executions in 2026 alone, more than any other state combined.
DeSantis stated that justice delayed is justice denied and expressed a desire to ensure the process ran smoothly for families who have waited decades. The governor has authority under Florida law to set execution dates. This pace follows a record year in 2025, where DeSantis oversaw 19 executions.
Reactions from Families and Advocates
The victim's family of Duckett expressed relief after decades of waiting. Dorothy Tula, the mother of the young girl, noted she waited nearly 40 years for justice. Conversely, Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty urged DeSantis to halt the executions, calling them an "unprecedented escalation." Executive Director Grace Hanna argued that capital punishment does not reflect what Floridians want.
