USA - James Aren Duckett (FL)

USA - Florida. James Aren Duckett’s execution has been suspended

March 26, 2026:

March 26, 2026 - Florida. The Supreme Court suspends the execution of James Aren Duckett

Scheduled for 31 March

On 26 March, the Florida Supreme Court issued a stay of execution for James Aren Duckett, 68, White, who was due to receive a three-drug lethal injection on Tuesday at the Florida State Penitentiary near Starke. Duckett was sentenced to death in 1988 after being found guilty of first-degree murder and sexual assault against an 11-year-old girl, Teresa McAbee

As part of his appeals process, Duckett had sought DNA testing that he argued could exonerate him. A circuit court granted that request, and the testing is still pending. The Florida Supreme Court also ordered the state to address the status of the DNA testing by 5 p.m. Friday.

If the stay isn’t lifted by Tuesday, it’s not clear when the execution would take place, if at all.

With a record 19 executions last year, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis oversaw more executions in a single year in 2025 than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The previous record was set in 2014 with eight executions.

According to court records, Duckett had worked as a police officer in Mascotte, a small city west of Orlando. He was on patrol the night of May 11, 1987, when 11-year-old Teresa McAbee disappeared. She was last seen getting into Duckett’s patrol car at a convenience store.

McAbee’s body was found in a lake the next morning less than a mile away from the store, officials said. A medical examiner determined she was sexually assaulted and then drowned. Blood and hair linked her to Duckett. Distinct tire tracks found at the lake matched the tires on Mascotte patrol cars. Duckett and McAbee’s fingerprints were found on the hood of Duckett’s car.

3 teen girls testified at trial that Duckett had previously given rides to each of them and had made sexual advances.

https://apnews.com/article/florida-execution-stay-james-aren-duckett-79048aff632dca617e86909f43b5d807