An octogenarian is set to be executed today, becoming the second-oldest person in modern US history to face such a fate. Dominick Anthony Occhicone, convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend’s parents in 1986, will be put to death by lethal injection in Florida, making him the oldest individual in the state’s history to be executed and the second oldest in US national history.
This execution marks Florida’s continued trend of carrying out capital punishments, with the state leading in executions compared to all other states combined this year. Occhicone, who has been on death row for four decades, made a final appeal to the US Supreme Court, which was rejected by Florida’s Supreme Court last week. His lawyers argued against his execution due to his age-related health issues, including kidney and prostate problems, claiming that the lethal injection would cause him undue suffering.
Despite the legal challenges, Florida prison officials confirmed their preparedness for Occhicone’s execution, scheduled for 6pm local time. If carried out as planned, he would become the oldest inmate to be executed in Florida shortly after two 74-year-olds held that position. Additionally, he would be the second-oldest prisoner in modern US history after Walter Moody Jr., who was executed in Alabama in 2018 at the age of 83 for a series of fatal bombings.
During the 1986 crime, Occhicone threatened his ex-girlfriend Anita Gerrity and her family, resulting in the murder of her parents. He fatally shot Gerrity’s father and mother, with Gerrity managing to escape along with her daughter. The execution has drawn criticism from advocacy groups, such as Floridians For Alternatives to the Death Penalty, who view it as inhumane due to Occhicone’s advanced age and health concerns.
Grace Hannah, the executive director of the organization, denounced the execution as cruel and unusual punishment, emphasizing Occhicone’s age and frail health as reasons to reconsider the capital sentence. Despite the opposition, the state of Florida remains steadfast in its decision to proceed with the execution.