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Mascotte Today
By the People, for the People
Florida Court Halts Execution of Ex-Cop Convicted of Murdering 11-Year-Old
James Duckett was scheduled to be executed for the 1987 rape and murder of Teresa McAbee.
Mar. 27, 2026 at 6:15pm
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The Florida Supreme Court has temporarily halted the execution of James Aren Duckett, a former police officer convicted of raping and murdering an 11-year-old girl in 1987. Duckett was scheduled to receive a lethal injection on Tuesday, but the court issued a stay of execution to allow for additional DNA testing that could potentially overturn his death sentence if the results do not match him.
Why it matters
This case has drawn significant attention due to the serious nature of the crimes, the long period of time since the conviction, and the possibility that new DNA evidence could exonerate Duckett and overturn his death sentence. The outcome could have major implications for the criminal justice system in Florida.
The details
Duckett was convicted in 1988 of first-degree murder and sexual battery for the 1987 death of 11-year-old Teresa McAbee. McAbee was last seen getting into Duckett's patrol car while he was on duty as a police officer in the small city of Mascotte, Florida. Her body was found the next morning in a nearby lake, and evidence including blood, hair, and tire tracks linked Duckett to the crime. However, the upcoming DNA testing could potentially identify another perpetrator and lead to Duckett's death sentence being overturned.
- On May 11, 1987, 11-year-old Teresa McAbee disappeared after getting into Duckett's patrol car.
- McAbee's body was found the next morning in a lake less than a mile from the convenience store.
- Duckett was convicted in 1988 and sentenced to death for the rape and murder of McAbee.
- Duckett was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Tuesday, March 28, 2026.
- On March 27, 2026, the Florida Supreme Court issued a stay of execution to allow for additional DNA testing.
The players
James Aren Duckett
A 68-year-old former police officer in Mascotte, Florida, who was convicted in 1988 of the rape and murder of 11-year-old Teresa McAbee.
Teresa McAbee
An 11-year-old girl who was raped and murdered in 1987, with her body found in a lake near Mascotte, Florida.
Leigh Clark
The deputy director of forensic services for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, who testified that the upcoming DNA testing could have four possible outcomes that could impact Duckett's execution.
What they’re saying
“If the DNA matches Duckett, the results are inconclusive, or there are no results, he will probably still be executed, but if the DNA matches another person, his death sentence could be overturned.”
— Leigh Clark, Deputy Director of Forensic Services, Florida Department of Law Enforcement
What’s next
The judge will decide whether to lift the stay of execution after the results of the DNA testing are known, which could determine whether Duckett's death sentence is upheld or overturned.
The takeaway
This case highlights the complex issues surrounding capital punishment, the role of DNA evidence in overturning convictions, and the need for a thorough and fair criminal justice system, even decades after a crime has been committed.
