Story perspectives

Florida Sets First Same-Day Executions Since 1964, 80-Year-Old Executed

7/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

Governor Ron DeSantis scheduled James Duckett’s noon execution and Dominick Occhicone’s 6 p.m. execution on July 28 2026, the first same-day executions in Florida since 1964.
The Florida Supreme Court lifted Duckett’s stay after DNA testing returned inconclusive results.
Occhicone, 80, will become the oldest person executed in Florida and the second oldest in modern U.S. history.
Florida has performed 58% of U.S. executions this year and 45% of the total since January 2025.

History

Historical Context

The 1976 Supreme Court ruling Gregg v. Georgia ended the Furman moratorium, letting states resume executions. Florida, which has performed 31 executions from 1977-2023 (?0.9 per year) and ranks with Texas and Oklahoma for most U.S. deaths, scheduled twin lethal-injection executions on July 28 2026 under Governor Ron DeSantis, a move that comes as national support fell below 50% in 2016.

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Story summary

Governor Ron DeSantis scheduled James Duckett’s noon execution and Dominick Occhicone’s 6 p.m. execution on July 28 2026, the first same-day executions in Florida since 1964.
The Florida Supreme Court lifted Duckett’s stay after DNA testing returned inconclusive results.
Occhicone, 80, will become the oldest person executed in Florida and the second oldest in modern U.S. history.
Florida has performed 58% of U.S. executions this year and 45% of the total since January 2025.

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