Florida man executed for murdering baby girl
James Duckett was put to death in 1987, having been convicted for the rape and murder of 11-year-old Teresa McAbee. Investigators also suspect he was involved in the death of Jennifer Weldon, who was 14 at the time, that same year.
Decades later, the execution of James Duckett, carried out by lethal injection on July 28, offers a measure of closure to two families mourning the loss of their young daughters—both believed to be victims of Duckett. He was 68 years old at the time of his execution.
Family members of McAbee observed the execution at the Florida State Penitentiary in Raeford, alongside relatives and friends of Jennifer Weldon. Authorities concluded that Duckett killed Weldon four months after McAbee’s murder.
Two lives lost
McAbee was last seen in May 1987, riding in Duckett’s police car during a night shift when he was the only officer on duty. Her subsequent murder was brutal; court records detailed that she was sexually assaulted, strangled, and ultimately drowned.
A month later, Duckett emerged as a suspect and was dismissed from his police role, with compelling fingerprint and DNA evidence linking him to the crime.
Then in September, Jennifer Weldon went missing just days before her 15th birthday. She had spent time out with friends, even acquiring a kitten to add to her collection of stuffed animals. Tragically, as she walked home that evening, she never made it back. A prolonged search ensued, leading to the discovery of her body more than a week later, hidden in a wooded area.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd suggested that Duckett may have lured Weldon into believing she was being offered a safe ride home, given his former position as a police officer. This false sense of security likely contributed to her tragic fate.
Six weeks after Weldon’s death, Duckett was arrested for McAbee’s murder. Although he became a prime suspect in Weldon’s case, the evidence was not as robust. On the night Weldon vanished, Duckett claimed he was dealing with car issues that made him late for work; however, this alibi was questionable given the absence of any signs of physical labor on him.
Moreover, Duckett brought home a stuffed kitten in a plastic bag the day after Weldon’s disappearance—eerily similar to the one Weldon had just purchased.
Although he was never formally charged with her murder, Duckett’s execution still provided some solace to Weldon’s family. Amy Weldon, Jennifer’s sister, expressed confidence that justice was served, though she lamented the lengthy process it took to reach this point.
As for Sheriff Judd, he reflected on the case’s long journey and noted that perhaps quicker action could have saved Weldon from a tragic end. He suggested that enhanced surveillance might have changed the outcome significantly.
