Florida executes man who spent nearly 50 years on death row AFP AFP Apr 30, 2026 Apr 30, 2026 Updated May 1, 2026 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp LinkedIn SMS Email James Hitchcock was among the inmates who spent the longest time on death row in the United States - Facebook Twitter WhatsApp LinkedIn SMS Email Print Copy article link Save A Florida man who has spent nearly half a century on death row was executed by lethal injection on Thursday for the murder of a 13-year-old girl.James Hitchcock, 70, was convicted of the 1976 murder of Cynthia Driggers, his step-niece, and sentenced to death in 1977. × This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. kAmw:E494@4<[ H9@ >2:?E2:?D 9:D :??@46?46[ H2D 6I64FE65 2E ei`a A> Waa`a v|%X 2E E96 u=@C:52 DE2E6 AC:D@? :? #2:7@C5[ E96 DE2E6VD s6A2CE>6?E @7 r@CC64E:@?D D2:5 @? :ED H63D:E6]k^Am kAmw:D ?62C=J d_ J62CD @? 562E9 C@H >256 9:> 2>@?8 E96 :?>2E6D H9@ 925 DA6?E E96 >@DE E:>6 :? AC:D@? 2H2:E:?8 6I64FE:@? :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D]k^AmkAmp D64@?5 &$ 6I64FE:@? E@@< A=246 @? %9FCD52J[ :? %6I2D]k^AmkAmy2>6D qC@25?2I[ bf[ H2D AFE E@ 562E9 2E eicf A> Wabcf v|%X 3J =6E92= :?;64E:@? 7@C E96 a__g C@336CJ 2?5 >FC56C @7 EH@ >FD:4 AC@5F46CD[ E96 %6I2D s6A2CE>6?E @7 rC:>:?2= yFDE:46 D2:5]k^AmkAmx? 9:D =2DE DE2E6>6?E[ D92C65 3J E96 56A2CE>6?E[ qC@25?2I D2:5i Q}@ >2EE6C H92E J@F E9:?< 23@FE >6[ %6I2D 8@E :E HC@?8] xV> :??@46?E]Qk^AmkAm%6? 6I64FE:@?D 92G6 366? 42CC:65 @FE :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D E9:D J62C \\ D:I :? u=@C:52[ E9C66 :? %6I2D 2?5 @?6 :? ~<=29@>2]k^AmkAm%96C6 H6C6 cf 6I64FE:@?D :? E96 4@F?ECJ =2DE J62C[ E96 >@DE D:?46 a__h[ H96? da A6@A=6 H6C6 AFE E@ 562E9]k^Am kAmu=@C:52 42CC:65 @FE E96 >@DE 6I64FE:@?D :? a_ad[ H:E9 `h[ 7@==@H65 3J p=232>2[ $@FE9 r2C@=:?2 2?5 %6I2D[ H96C6 E96C6 H6C6 7:G6 6249]k^AmkAm%9:CEJ\?:?6 @7 =2DE J62CVD 6I64FE:@?D H6C6 42CC:65 @FE 3J =6E92= :?;64E:@?]k^AmkAm%9C66 H6C6 3J 7:C:?8 DBF25 2?5 7:G6 3J ?:EC@86? 9JA@I:2[ H9:49 :?G@=G6D AF>A:?8 ?:EC@86? 82D :?E@ 2 7246 >2D<[ 42FD:?8 E96 AC:D@?6C E@ DF77@42E6]k^AmkAm%96 FD6 @7 ?:EC@86? 82D 2D 2 >6E9@5 @7 42A:E2= AF?:D9>6?E 92D 366? 56?@F?465 3J &?:E65 }2E:@?D 6IA6CED 2D 4CF6= 2?5 :?9F>2?6]k^AmkAm%96 562E9 A6?2=EJ 92D 366? 23@=:D965 :? ab @7 E96 d_ &$ DE2E6D[ H9:=6 E9C66 @E96CD \\ r2=:7@C?:2[ ~C68@? 2?5 !6??DJ=G2?:2 \\ 92G6 >@C2E@C:F>D :? A=246]k^AmkAm!C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A :D 2 AC@A@?6?E @7 42A:E2= AF?:D9>6?E 2?5 92D 42==65 7@C 2? 6IA2?D:@? @7 :ED FD6 Q7@C E96 G:=6DE 4C:>6D]Qk^AmkAm%96 %CF>A yFDE:46 s6A2CE>6?E D2:5 :? pAC:= E92E :E :D D66<:?8 E@ 6IA2?5 E96 FD6 @7 E96 562E9 A6?2=EJ :? 7656C2= 42A:E2= 42D6D 2?5 255 E96 7:C:?8 DBF25[ 6=64EC@4FE:@? 2?5 82D 2D >6E9@5D @7 6I64FE:@?]k^AmkAm4=^56D^>DA^>=>k^Am Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. News Alerts Get the latest need-to-know information delivered to your inbox as it happens. The Daily Our flagship newsletter. Get our front page stories each morning as well as the latest updates each afternoon during the week + more in-depth weekend editions on Saturdays & Sundays. You must select at least one email list. Please enter a valid email address. Sign up Manage your lists Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp LinkedIn SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Tags Afp Capital Punishment In The United States Capital Punishment Death Row Punishment Violence Death Abuse Homicide Law Enforcement Criminology Killings Public Law Corporal Punishments Criminal Justice Criminal Law Punishments Crime Penology Justice Issues In Ethics Imprisonment And Detention Law Social Issues Human Rights Youth Rights Misconduct United States Criminal Law Causes Of Death Hazards Causes Penal Imprisonment Crimes Deviance (sociology)
