Florida to Execute Former Officer Convicted of Murdering 11-Year-Old Girl

A former Mascotte Police officer who was convicted of sexual assault and murder of an 11-year-old will be executed on March 31 in Florida.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant for James Aren Duckett, a former Florida police officer on February 26. Duckett is scheduled to be executed on March 31, making Florida’s sixth execution this year. Florida carried out 19 executions in 2025.

Teresa McAbee, an 11-year-old girl, was assaulted and murdered by Duckett in May 1987. Duckett was arrested in 1988 and later convicted. Investigators uncovered several pieces of evidence that led to Duckett’s conviction.

According to the officials, Duckett took the 11-year-old to a lake, where he sexually assaulted McAbee, before strangling and drowning her. Investigators learned McAbee got into Duckett’s car at a convenience store about 1 mile from the lake where her body was discovered.

Investigators also revealed that they found distinctive tire marks at the lake that matched Duckett’s petrol car. McAbee’s fingerprints were also found on the hood of Duckett’s car.

According to the death warrant signed by DeSantis, the evidence indicates that “McAbee had been sitting backwards on the hood and had scooted up the car.” When McAbee’s body was discovered it was seen that she had been sexually battered, strangled and then drowned in the lake.

State officials said Duckett spent nearly three decades pursuing postconviction litigation, but was unsuccessful. His execution warrant was signed on February 26.

Florida scheduled three executions in March, starting with Billy Leon Kearse on March 3, followed by Micheal Lee King on March 17. Ronald Palmer Heath and Melvin Trotter have already been executed in 2026.

Since the death penalty was reinstated in the United States in 1976, Florida recorded its highest number of executions in 2025 with 19. The previous high was eight executions in 2024. In 2025 a total of 47 people were executed, out of which Florida carried out 19 executions followed by Texas and the state of Alabama.

Florida has carried out the most executions this year after setting a record in 2025. Texas and Alabama also scheduled several executions earlier in 2026 reflecting a continued surge in capital punishment in these states.