Florida is planning to execute two men, James Duckett and Dominick Occhicone, in one day, marking the first time in over six decades the state has put to death multiple people within a single day. Duckett, a former police officer, was convicted of murdering 11-year-old Teresa McAbee in 1987, while Occhicone, an 80-year-old man, was convicted of double-murder in 1987 for killing his former girlfriend’s parents.

Concerns Over Execution Pace

Advocates are decrying the increased pace of executions in Florida, with 19 death row inmates executed in 2025, a record high. The recent increase has raised concerns, particularly given Florida’s history of death row exonerations, with 30 people freed since 1973 after serving time for a crime they didn’t commit.

The scheduling of two executions in one day has sparked concerns about the potential for complications and the stress it may put on the execution process. Both inmates have filed lawsuits seeking to halt their executions, including one that argues they could suffer ‘botched’ executions due to the compressed timeline.

Florida leads the nation in death row exonerations, and advocates argue that the state’s accelerated pace of executions may lead to more mistakes. The state’s governor, Ron DeSantis, has expressed his support for the death penalty, stating it is an ‘appropriate punishment for the worst offenders’ that could be a ‘strong deterrent’.

National Implications

The increased pace of executions in Florida has drawn attention to the national debate over the death penalty. While some states have abolished or paused the practice, Florida has continued to carry out executions, with 10 inmates put to death this year alone.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.