Executions

Florida put two inmates to death hours apart on Tuesday, marking the first time since 2017 that a state has scheduled two executions in a single day.

The former Florida governor details his platform, policy positions and perspective on the challenges facing the city he calls a "jewel."

Dennis Sochor, convicted of murdering Patricia Gifford in 1982, apologized several times to her family and thanked his own loved ones for their support before the deadly drugs began flowing.

The last prisoner strapped to a table in Florida’s death chamber was 74 years old — the oldest the state has executed in modern times. The next two scheduled for lethal injections are older still.

Justices rejected the motion for a stay in the scheduled execution of Dennis Michael Sochor and lifted a stay that delayed the penalty for James Aren Duckett.

Dusty Ray Spencer has spent more than three decades on Death Row for murdering his wife in Orange County.

Opponents of the death penalty say Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has more authority than other states' top officials in approving death warrants, a factor driving the high number of executions.

A 53-year-old Florida man has been executed for the murder of his girlfriend’s infant daughter in 1996. Andrew Richard Lukehart was pronounced dead at 6:19 p.m. after receiving a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke.

Under Ricky Dixon's leadership, Florida executed 32 people, most of them last year.

Dusty Ray Spencer, who was found guilty in the beating death of his wife, Karen, is scheduled to die June 25. The next Florida execution scheduled is for Andrew Lukehart on Tuesday.

Richard Knight was convicted of murder in the June 2002 killings of Odessia Stephens and her young daughter, Hanessia Mullings.

The majority of the court agreed to the stay as James Aren Duckett awaits postconviction DNA testing.