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Former cop Duckett executed for girl's rape, murder in 1987
Orlando Sentinel • • nation
Key Points:
- James Aren Duckett was executed at Florida State Prison for the 1987 rape and drowning of 11-year-old Teresa McAbee, maintaining his innocence until his death.
- Duckett's legal team filed last-minute appeals to test evidence for DNA, but the U.S. Supreme Court and other courts denied stays of execution.
- The execution was the first of two scheduled in Florida on the same day, with Dominick Anthony Occhicone set to be executed later, potentially marking the first double execution in Florida since 1964.
- Anti-death penalty activists held vigils and protests, highlighting concerns about wrongful executions and the burden of proof resting on inmates after conviction.
- Teresa McAbee’s family expressed relief after Duckett’s execution, while supporters questioned the evidence and circumstances, including Duckett’s role as a police officer at the time of the crime.
