Despite the fact that Duane Owen is a person with serious mental illness, the Florida Supreme Court this afternoon rejected decades of documented scientific and psychiatric evidence and paved the way for Mr. Owen’s execution to proceed next week.
Unless the United States Supreme Court steps in, the execution of Mr. Owen will add to Florida’s shameful history of executing the seriously mentally ill. Read more about Florida’s history here, as we share Thomas Provenzano’s execution story.
If the execution proceeds, I will be at Florida State Prison across from the Death Chamber at 5 pm for our vigil and protest, and I hope you’ll join me there if you are able. If you can’t make it to FSP, we are finalizing our list of vigils and protests across the state, including a virtual vigil, which we will send out on Monday. If you have any questions, or vigils to add, please email us at [email protected].
Please sign this petition and urge Governor DeSantis and the Executive Clemency Board to Stay Duane’s execution and grant clemency. If you’re a faith leader, add your name to this letter urging the same.
Florida’s death penalty is as reckless, arbitrary, and dangerous as its ever been, and Duane’s execution underscores the critical need for Florida to pass legislation that would protect people like him from the death penalty. Stay tuned for updates on how you can support the SMI Bill next legislative session.
In the meantime, please continue to read and share Duane’s story as we do everything in our power to support Duane and his legal team as they fight for a stay.
Onward,
Maria DeLiberato
FADP Executive Director
P.S.: Please consider a gift of $38 today for each year Duane Owen has spent on Florida’s Death Row, never receiving adequate treatment for his serious mental illness. Or, better yet, consider a gift of $140 – the combined number of years spent on death row by Donald Dillbeck, Louis Gaskin, Darryl Barwick, and Duane Owen.