DeSantis Signs Death Warrant for Former Cop

0:00Tampa Bay stories, making news on March 2nd. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant Friday for James Aaron Duckett, a former police officer convicted of raping and murdering. 11-year-old Teresa Maccabee back in 1987. The 68-year-old faces lethal injection at Florida State Prison on March 31st. Duckett worked for the mascot police department when the girl climbed into his patrol car outside a convenience store. Her body turned up in a nearby lake, showing signs of sexual battery, strangling, and drowning. Officials later matched her fingerprints to his vehicle hood. Despite claiming innocence, Duckett got convicted of first-degree murder and sexual battery in 1988, with a death sentence handed. Down that June. His appeals dragged on for over 30 years through state and federal courts, but none succeeded. This marks the fifth death warrant. DeSantis has approved this year, and the third execution lined up for March. Just last Tuesday, Melvin Trotter was executed for a 1986 murder, while Billy Leon Kiers faces death

1:03Tuesday for killing a police officer in 1991. Florida has carried out a modern era record of 19 executions in 2025 so far. Duckett was also eyed in other unsolved cases, including deaths of a young woman and a 14-year-old girl around that time. Thanks to our sponsor for supporting today's coverage, it is a pillow that plays your podcasts and music without earbuds. Built for listening in bed,