Dominick Anthony Occhicone has been executed by lethal injection in Florida at age 80, making him the oldest inmate put to death in the state's history. He was sentenced for the 1986 murders of Raymond and Martha Artzner, the parents of his ex-girlfriend. The execution occurred on the same day as another inmate, 68-year-old James Duckett, marking Florida's first double execution day since 1964.
Murders in 1986
Occhicone killed the Artzners at their Pasco County home in the early hours of June 10, 1986. He first knocked on the door wanting to rekindle his relationship with Anita Gerrety, his ex-girlfriend. When she threatened to call the sheriff, he left but returned an hour later. Prosecutors said the phone line had been cut. Occhicone shot Raymond in the face, then broke through a locked door and chased Anita, who escaped outside with her daughter. She heard gunshots; Martha Artzner was found dead. Raymond identified Occhicone before dying at the hospital. Occhicone did not deny the evidence but argued the shootings were not premeditated; a jury disagreed, and he was sentenced to death.
Appeals exhausted
The Florida Supreme Court unanimously rejected Occhicone's final appeals earlier in the week, clearing the way for the execution. He became the second-oldest inmate executed in the US since Walter Moody, executed at age 83 in 2018. Occhicone was Florida's 12th execution in 2026.
Second execution of the day
James Duckett, a former police officer, was executed at noon for the 1987 rape and murder of 11-year-old Teresa McAbee. He declined a final statement, responding “no sir” when asked. Four minutes after the lethal injection, a warden shook him and found him unresponsive; he was pronounced dead. The double execution was Florida's first since 1964. Governor Ron DeSantis has increased the pace of executions, with Florida carrying out nearly half of all US executions since 2025.
