Florida

Think you know Tampa Bay? Try these Florida bingo cards

Published

2 years ago

August 17, 2024

Think you know Tampa Bay? Try these Florida bingo cards

You’re the envy of all of your out-of-state friends when you post pictures on the back of a boat this summer or in a sunny pool during the wintertime. You know Tampa Bay is a region, not a city. Duh. Hopefully you even have a hurricane-prep routine down pat.

But how well do you really know Tampa Bay?

We put together three bingo cards to test your experience with the area’s wildlife, cuisine and famed landmarks. Whether you’re a longtime resident, a snowbird or a fresh face in the area, we bet there’s still something new to check off.

Print out one or all three and get exploring.

The numbers on each card correspond with a tip, trick or helpful hint noted below the card. Check those out before beginning your pursuit.

Card 1: TREATS

Who’s hungry? This bingo card covers Tampa Bay’s top treats, from devil crab to key lime pie. [ LISA MERKLIN | Times ]

We hope you’re hungry. Tampa Bay’s culinary scene is full of goodies. We’ve offered some suggestions for where to find specific treats, but don’t let that stop you from visiting a favorite local spot.

Any alcoholic beverages can be substituted with a virgin version. And please, don’t anger your neighbor by raiding their mango tree without asking.

1. Guava pastry

Tampa isn’t called the “Big Guava” for nothing! Some sweet places to snag this treat include La Segunda Bakery (various locations around Tampa and St. Petersburg), Valhalla Bakery in St. Petersburg and Bakery Makel in Clearwater.

2. Mazzaro’s sandwich

It’s worth it to brave the crowd at Mazzaro’s Italian Market in St. Petersburg. Try a meatball sub or an eggplant parm.

3. Scachatta pizza

Feast on this blend of Cuban and Sicilian flavors at bakeries like Alessi or La Segunda– a true testament to Tampa Bay’s cultural fusion.

4. Orange-vanilla twist ice cream cone

If you find yourself traveling south along the Sunshine Skyway, the Citrus Place in Terra Ceia is worth a stop. Yellow Banks Groves in Largo and Lane’s Lemonade & Dairy Bar are also great spots to grab this sweet treat.

5. 1905 Salad

The Columbia Restaurant’s iconic 1905 Salad, laden with Swiss cheese, ham and green olives, dates back to the 1940s. Find this dish in Clearwater, at the Tampa Bay History Center in Tampa, at Tampa International Airport or at the iconic Ybor City restaurant, which dates back to (you guessed it) 1905.

6. Piña colada

For those who like piña coladas (and getting caught in the rain), Tampa Bay has no shortage of tiki bars. Experience the tropics at Bar Tiki and Ka’Tiki with their classic frozen blends of coconut, pineapple and rum.

7. Yard mango

The best part of summertime is fresh mangoes plucked from trees around town. Tampa Bay may be having a rough mango season this year, but that just makes each bite all the more sweet. Be sure to ask your neighbors before taking fruit from their yard. Pro tip: Check your local Nextdoor group for people giving away their extras.

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8. Cuban sandwich

Undeniably a signature of Tampa Bay’s culinary brand. Where to find the best Cubano is debatable, but any local will tell you definitely not in Miami (South Florida foolishly leaves out the salami).

9. Key lime pie

Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish makes a mean key lime pie, but you also can’t go wrong with a slice from the Publix bakery.

10. Wright’s cake

Rest assured, Wright’s Gourmet House will continue serving up its iconic cake slices despite operating under new ownership. Good luck picking a flavor.

11. Bern’s steak

Bern’s Steak House has plenty of dry-aged cuts to choose from, but we recommend the steak sandwich. This off-the-menu special is best enjoyed by yourself at the bar, according to our Times dining critic.

12. Alligator nuggets

Alligator meat is high in protein and low in cholesterol. Try the jaw and tail meat fried up into nuggets. We’ve rounded up some local places where you can sample gator.

13. Cappy’s deep dish pizza

Visit a Cappy’s Pizza in Seminole Heights, Riverview, Tampa Palms, South Tampa or St. Petersburg for epic cheese pulls.

14. Pub sub

The Publix sub sandwich, a Florida cult favorite, is best enjoyed at the beach. Order yours ahead online to save time in line. And condiments are a must if you go for the chicken tender sub.

15. Devil crab

Local lore says the crab-meat croquette dates back a century to a cigar factory strike. Former Florida Sen. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, even proposed legislation to name the Tampa devil crab the state crustacean. Find this Tampa delicacy at spots like the Silver Ring Cafe.

16. Hooters wings

Of course this “delightfully tacky, yet unrefined” breastaurant got its start in Clearwater. The chain’s first location turned 40 last year.

17. Goody Goody burger

Try the POX burger, a staple on Goody Goody Burgers’ menu known for “precisely-cut pickles, onions, and oh, that sauce.” Taste the tomato-based secret sauce for yourself at their diner in Hyde Park or at Tampa International Airport.

18. Flaming cheese

Boasting the largest population of Greeks outside of Greece, Tarpon Springs is a great place to go for saganaki, cheese served in a flurry of flame. Mykonos and Hellas Restaurant & Bakery, as well as other spots near the Sponge Docks, feature it on their menus. Don’t forget baklava for dessert!

19. Stone crab

October 15, the beginning of stone crab season, is practically a holiday for native Floridians. Thankfully, you don’t have to wait until then to feast on the beefy claws. Billy’s Stone Crab sources the succulent crab meat from the West Coast during the off-season.

20. Sourdough donuts

Find sugary “sourdonuts” at Supernatural Food and Wine in Tampa. These treats sell fast, so make sure to arrive early or preorder a day in advance. You might as well get the breakfast sandwich too — Alton Brown said it was maybe the best he’s ever had.

21. Shaved ice

Life-threatening heat calls for cooling down in any way possible. Bonus points if that method is delicious.

22. Pizza by the slice

Is it even a night out in Ybor City if you didn’t sober up with a late-night slice from the New York New York Pizza window?

23. Grouper burger

There are countless places to find this Floridian tradition. Writer Rick Bragg said it might even be life-changing. We recommend grabbing one at the Tavern at Bayboro, located on the University of South Florida’s campus.

24. Bloody Mary

Sip on this hangover-curing cocktail at Mahuffer’s in Indian Shores. On Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., customers can craft their own Bloody Mary at Ka’Tiki for $2.50.

Card 2: Wildlife

Respect the wildlife habitats and stay safe while seeking out Florida's scaly, feathered and furry friends. — Respect the wildlife habitats and stay safe while seeking out Florida’s scaly, feathered and furry friends. [ LISA MERKLIN | Times ]

Gators, gulls and stingrays — oh my! Florida’s wildlife has no shortage of fascinating creatures. Before embarking on your wildlife adventure, remember safety comes first always.

This card is meant to get you out in nature to spot our scaly, feathered and furry friends — not join them for dinner as a guest or a meal. Respect the wildlife habitat and leave without a trace, all limbs intact. Don’t forget the sunscreen and bug spray. You’re going to need it.

1. Gator

These scaly beasts might get a bad rap, but they’re Florida icons. You’ll find gators in bodies of still or slow-moving freshwater. Think rivers, lakes, the occasional retention pond.

We’ve recently spotted them (from a safe distance) on the banks at Sawgrass Lake Park, Lettuce Lake and in the Ruth Eckerd Hall retention pond.

2. Heron

Several heron species call Tampa Bay their home. Find them taking flight from nearby mangroves, parks and ponds.

3. Possum

Some might consider the species a nuisance, but they might be key to combating the invasive Burmese python.

4. Spoonbill

Visit Round Lake in St. Petersburg for a chance to see a spoonbill splashing in the water.

5. Armadillo

Armadillos are nocturnal. Take a walk in a wooded area at dusk and listen for rustling leaves.

6. Snake

Check out the Florida Museum of Natural History’s online snake identification tool, which allows you to filter through 50 species based on color and scale pattern.

7. Pelican

The brown pelican is St. Petersburg’s official city bird. Find them diving for dinner across Tampa Bay, from Coffee Pot Bayou in St. Pete to the Howard Frankland Bridge.

8. Coyote

Urban coyotes, spotted in every county in Florida, are a frequent topic of community gossip. Keep your distance.

9. Palmetto bug

No one wants to encounter these gross pests in their home, but at least seeing one can help you get closer to BINGO.

10. Wood stork

Spot these prehistoric-looking birds looking for leftovers near burger joint El Cap in St. Petersburg.

11. Owl

Five species of owls call the Sunshine State their home. Find some of them at ZooTampa at Lowry Park.

12. Florida softshell turtle

You’ll recognize the softshell turtle by its extremely pointy nose.

13. Manatee

Manatees can be found in a variety of waterways including the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay. But the best way to spot a manatee during the hot summer months is to head to the springs. Check out Weeki Wachee or Three Sister Springs, among others. Just remember to keep a safe distance from these gentle giants.

14. Lizard

From brown anoles that skitter around your front porch to lighter Mediterranean geckos that give you a jump scare in your bathroom, Tampa Bay is teeming with lizards. Just stay away from the 6-foot Nile monitors.

15. Ybor rooster

Ybor City’s famed roosters are honored throughout the year with a calendar, parade and even yoga classes (Don’t worry, they wear diapers). You can also spot them clucking down Seventh Avenue.

16. Dolphin

Tampa Bay Times reporters love to look for dolphins around dusk in the waters by Vinoy Park. You can also book a dolphin cruise near the beaches or kayak among these mammals at Upper Tampa Bay Park.

17. Stingray

At this point, performing the stingray shuffle goes without saying. For a safe up-close encounter, make your way to the Tampa Bay Rays touch tank at Tropicana Field. ZooTampa at Lowry Park recently added an interactive stingray experience, too.

18. Scallop

In the waters off the Suncoast — Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties, which includes the towns of Cedar Key, Crystal River and Homosassa — scallop season is July 1 to Sept. 24. Go snorkeling yourself or check out some vendors that offer scalloping packages.

19. Ibis

These birds are happiest in marshes and coastal waters, but many in Florida have been displaced by development, which is why you’ve probably seen their flocks in the heart of suburbia.

20. Gopher tortoise

These creatures are cute, but listed as threatened. Appreciate them from a distance — or head to ZooTampa for a visit.

21. Mosquito

HAVE YOU STEPPED OUTSIDE?

22. Otter

The river otter, a Florida native, is commonly found in freshwater rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds and swamps around the state. Don’t let their cuteness fool you — these critters can be feisty.

23. Seagull

If you catch a seagull flying over Tampa Bay, does that make it a bay-gull? Bad jokes aside, if you’ve ever brought snacks to the beach, you know how easy it is to spot these birds.

24. Peacock

These birds may look pretty, but Tampa Bay Realtors warn potential homebuyers of these neighborhood “pets.” Find them roaming in St. Pete communities like Disston Heights or Jungle Prada, where “peacock crossing” signs line Park Street.

Card 3: Places

Tampa Bay loves its local landmarks, from the Tampa Theatre to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. [ TIMES STAFF WRITER | Lisa Merklin ]

It’s worth it to cross a bridge or two to see all that Tampa Bay has to offer (really, we promise!) As a bonus, most of these spots are inexpensive or free to visit.

1. Tampa Theatre

Escape the heat in this nearly 100-year-old movie palace, which offers backstage tours as well as films and live entertainment. The theater currently has a “Summer Classics” series. Enjoy one of the films underneath the venue’s realistic night sky sparkling with twinkling stars.

2. St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club

Shuffle the night away on the green courts of the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, which just celebrated its 100th anniversary. Read about its history here.

3. Fort DeSoto

With beaches, historic military structures, diverse wildlife and campgrounds, this spot has something for everyone. Oh, and $5 all-day parking. Need we say more?

4. Paradise Grille bell

This nightly sunset bell ringing at Paradise Grille is a Pass-a-Grille tradition. You can reach out to Jim LeBlanc, the “Head Ding-Dong,” at (571) 722-9323 to arrange a chance to ring the bell yourself. Or, arrive 15 to 30 minutes before sunset to find him.

5. Sunshine Skyway Bridge

If the idea of crossing this sky-high structure makes your palms sweaty, visit the Skyway fishing pier for sunset views instead.

6. Coffee Pot Bayou rhino

The life-sized rhinoceros statue stands guard outside a house on St. Petersburg’s Coffee Pot Boulevard. It’s pretty fashionable, too, prepared for any holiday or upcoming election with a seemingly endless range of outfits.

7. University of Tampa Minarets

While a man once lived inside one of the University of Tampa’s minarets, these days the distinctive pieces of architecture are just decorative. Read about their history, then snap a selfie nearby.

8. Sulfur Springs water tower

This famed 214-foot-tall tower has been a make-out spot and graffiti magnet for years. It recently got a much-needed scrub and fresh coat of paint — though some locals still may claim that it’s haunted.

9. Secret Garden

Head to Upham Beach for this hidden gem – but is this secluded garden really that secret if Google Maps has its address?

10. St. Pete Pier

From dozens of vendors to restaurants and fishing docks, the 26-acre structure has an ex-PIER-ience for all ages.

11. Vinoy Bench

Found along the St. Petersburg waterfront in Vinoy Park, this bench is labeled with a small plaque in honor of Al Nixon, a St. Petersburg local who watches the sunrise from the bench nearly every day.

12. Cigar factories

We’ve tracked Tampa’s 25 remaining local cigar factories (and their various uses) here. J.C. Newman Cigar Factory is the last operational cigar factory in the nation, doubling these days as an event venue. They even offer tours.

13. Streetcar or SunRunner

Get from “beach to ‘Burg” on the SunRunner for $2.25, or travel for free on the TECO Line Streetcar system, which connects Downtown Tampa, Channel District and Ybor City.

14. Thrill Hill

Thrill Hill is a favorite landmark for those in St. Petersburg’s Old Southeast neighborhood. It’s been flip-flopping stomachs for more than 100 years.

15. Weeki Wachee Springs State Park

Most known for its live mermaids, this state park can get busy quickly. Arriving before the park opens is highly recommended.

16. Sponge Docks

Tarpon Springs and “Sponge Docks” are practically synonymous. Here’s how you can make a day out of Florida’s “Little Greece.”

17. Tampa Riverwalk

The 2.6-mile Riverwalk along the Hillsborough River offers scenic views, outdoor activities, museums and plenty of restaurants and bars to keep you fueled throughout the day. It’s set to expand soon.

18. The Salvador Dalí Museum

Snag discounted tickets to this St. Petersburg mecca of surrealism on Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m.

19. The Pinellas Trail

The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail extends from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs. Times reporters recommend picking up a pair of wheels at Kafe Racer in Dunedin to explore the trail. But you can get on at several points and stroll at your leisure, too.

20. The Don CeSar

Visit St. Pete Beach’s oceanfront “Pink Palace” for its ornate lobby, spa services or fine dining. Locals can lounge poolside with the purchase of a daylong ResortPass.

21. Alafia Mountain Bike Trail

With more than 20 miles of single-track trails, mountain bikers can ride on trails ranging in difficulty from “easiest” to “expert.”

22. 2001 Odyssey spaceship

The flying saucer on the roof of this Tampa strip club was once a prefabricated home of the future called the Futuro House. These days, it’s the location of the club’s private dances (for a few hundred bucks). You don’t have to actually go inside to get credit for BINGO.

23. Ruskin Drive-In Theater

Dating back to 1952, the Ruskin Family Drive-In Theatre calls itself the “last family drive-in in the U.S.A.” Bring cash and bug spray.

24. Philippe Park Mound

Designated a National Historic Landmark, this Native American mound in Safety Harbor was built by Tocobaga Indians. The park also makes our list for waterfront places with shade.

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Florida

Florida baseball falls to Jacksonville in midweek action

Published

9 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Press Room

Florida baseball falls to Jacksonville in midweek action

Florida lost to Jacksonville, 4-3, on Tuesday night. The Gators hit a season-high six batters in the loss, including two in a disastrous eighth inning.

Schuyler Sandford struggled out of the gate, walking two of the first three batters and bothcing a pickoff attempt. He recovered to get through the inning without giving up a run, but he didn’t make it out of the second. Sandford neared 49 pitches after just five outs, so Kevin O’Sullivan brought in Eli Blair earlier than expected. Blair hit the first batter he faced, but forced a groundout to keep Jacksonville off the board.

Florida didn’t do much offensively until the third. Brendan Lawson and Cole Stanford singled in the first and second, respectively, but neither came around to score. Lawson drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly, capitalizing on a leadoff triple from Kolt Myers. Ethan Surowiec drove in Kyle Jones, who walked earlier in the inning.

Blair hit another batter in the third. A wild pitch and passed ball got him over to third base, but he got out of it again. After a third hit batter in the fourth inning, Caden McDonald took over for Blair. McDonald was the only arm of the night for Florida that didn’t hit a batter. He allowed one run on four hits, but he also struck out five over 2 2/3 innings.

Cole Stanford homered in the fourth to make it 3-0, Florida. Jacksonville got on the board in the sixth, when three of McDonald’s allowed hits came. They were all singles, but it was enough to drive in former Gator Sammy Mummau.

Billy Barlow pitched a 1-2-3 seventh. He was on his way to a second clean inning, but he couldn’t get the third out after striking out the first two batters. He hit a batter and walked Mummau, bringing in Cooper Walls. The former Sunday starter hit the first batter he saw to load the bases.

A bizarre sequence occurred next and ultimately decided the game. Roger Vergara took a 1-2 pitch that was a ball and got passed Stanford, but the umpire called the ball dead, stopping Jacksonville from scoring. The crew convened and decided the call on the field was a hit by pitch, but it missed Vergara by a good six inches. Florida challenged the call, and it was reversed, but the umpires still robbed Jacksonville of a run.

Vergara made it right with a two-run single, tying the game and advancing the go-ahead run to third. A passed ball from Walls gave Jacksonville a 4-3 lead.

Blake Cyr singled in the sixth but couldn’t score. That was Florida’s last hit of the night. Karson Bowen also got on base with a walk in the bottom of the ninth, but Jacksonville stopped him from scoring.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

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Florida

Brightline ridership grows as South Florida ticket fares shrink while it gets more time to pay its debt

Published

21 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Press Room

Brightline ridership grows as South Florida ticket fares shrink while it gets more time to pay its debt

Brightline trains carried almost 10,000 passengers on the average day in February. That’s a new record as ridership between its five stations in South Florida jumped thanks to a sharp drop in average fares.

Long distance trips between South Florida and Orlando, however, remain the main driver of revenue as Brightline works to be a transportation alternative to driving on I-95 or the Florida Turnpike.

The average long distance fare in February was up 7% from a year earlier, while ridership grew by 4%. A price hike for its baggage fee also helped drive stronger revenue. Brightline’s total monthly revenue was $18.3 million, up 8%. The company does not disclose its monthly operating costs.

Short haul riders, those on trains in South Florida, jumped on cheaper fares last month. The average passenger paid 16% less for the shorter trips in February as ridership on those itineraries jumped 21%. And most of that increase came in the final two weeks of the month.

“February ridership and revenue were negatively impacted by a cold weather event in Florida during the first 10 days of February,” Brightline noted in its monthly report. Ticket revenue was flat during that same period. The company also sold a lot more higher-priced premium tickets from a year ago. Brightline has changed its scheduling and fare strategy in recent months to offer peak and off-peak prices while adding trains to its South Florida service, hoping to attract more regular commuters. It canceled a popular ticket package more than a year and a half ago only to reintroduce a commuter pass a year later.

“We believe the commuter business will reach its previous levels over the next several months,” it said.

Brightline is racing to accelerate its revenue growth to meet its debt payments. Last month, it negotiated with some of its bondholders to extend the deadline for one interest payment that was originally due Feb. 17. The lenders agreed to wait two more months.

Credit rating agencies S&P Global, Kroll and Fitch cut their grade on some Brightline bonds this year as the company’s revenue growth has lagged behind forecasts. S&P has since withdrawn its rating altogether at the request of Brightline. Its IOUs are rated as junk bonds, the riskiest category for lenders.

The company tapped its reserve account to pay its interest payments that were due Jan. 1. It is scheduled to pay $162 million in debt payments this year, though credit analysts are increasingly doubtful the company will be able to stay current on its IOUs.

In March, S&P Global predicted Brightline will be forced to restructure its debt “in about six months.”

The company has been updating lenders for months that it is looking to raise money by selling “a substantial amount of equity” to pay down its multi-billion dollar debt load. Analysts expect some bondholders will convert their loans into ownership stakes of the passenger train service.

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Florida

Killer cop or the wrong man? DNA halts Florida execution. For now.

Published

1 day ago

March 30, 2026

Press Room

Killer cop or the wrong man? DNA halts Florida execution. For now.

Ex-officer James Duckett had been set to be executed by lethal injection on March 30 for the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl while he was on duty in Florida. But DNA testing has stopped it.

When 11-year-old Teresa Mae McAbee was kidnapped, raped, strangled and drowned in the small Florida city of Mascotte nearly 40 years ago, a surprising suspect emerged: a rookie cop named James Duckett.

The one undisputed fact of the case is that Duckett was on duty on May 11, 1987, when he encountered Teresa at a convenience store. The little girl had walked there to buy a pencil.

Duckett maintains that he told Teresa that she needed to go home, and that’s the last time he saw her. Prosecutors argue that Duckett was a monster in disguise who abused the badge and brutally raped and killed Teresa before dumping her body in a lake.

Jurors accepted the state’s narrative, convicting Duckett of murder largely based on circumstantial evidence and recommending the death penalty.

Now nearly 40 years later, DNA in the case stands to either save Duckett’s life or seal his fate.

Duckett, 68, had been set to die by lethal injection at a Florida state prison on Tuesday, March 31. But with less than a week to go, the Florida Supreme Court issued a rare stay of execution pending the results of the DNA testing. And on Monday, March 30, the court upheld the stay, effectively stopping any chance that the execution would happen as scheduled.

Though the execution is on hold for now, it’s not on hold for good.

As Duckett awaits his fate, USA TODAY is looking deeper at the case, the recent court actions and why the DNA hasn’t been tested until now.

What happened to Teresa Mae McAbee?

On May 11, 1987, the fates of 29-year-old rookie cop James “Jimmy” Duckett and 11-year-old Teresa Mae McAbee became intertwined.

Teresa had walked to her local Circle K convenience store to buy a pencil around 10 p.m. in Mascotte, Florida, a rural city just west of Orlando that had fewer than 2,000 residents at the time.

Duckett was on patrol for the Mascotte Police Department. The married father of two sons, who had been on the force for seven months, was making his regular rounds and stopped at Circle K, spotting Teresa talking with a 16-year-old boy outside the store, according to court records.

Duckett has always maintained that he talked to Teresa and the teen, telling each to go home. But the boy and his uncle later said that Duckett put Teresa in his patrol car and drove off.

Teresa’s mother arrived at the Circle K around 11 p.m. looking for her daughter. The store clerk told her that Teresa may have gone with Duckett, and the mother began searching the area. When she couldn’t find Teresa, she contacted police and later filed a missing persons report with Duckett, the only officer on patrol at the time.

The next morning, less than a mile from the Circle K, a fisherman found Teresa’s body in Knight Lake. A medical examiner later found that she had been raped, strangled and was still alive when her attacker drowned her. Bodily fluid, presumably from the killer, was found on her underwear − DNA that was saved.

Duckett became a suspect when a sheriff’s investigator, Sgt. Chuck Johnson, thought the officer was acting nervous at the scene of the body recovery, “was not curious about the death,” and told a “rehearsed-sounding story” about his interaction with Teresa and the events of the night before. Duckett was charged with murder five months later.

What happened at James Duckett’s trial?

At trial, prosecutors called James Duckett a “cold-blooded killer” and said that unlike him, Teresa didn’t have a judge or jury.

“She had a police officer named Duckett pick her up and put her in the car and take her down to Knight Lake, and he sentenced her to be raped, and he sentenced her for threatening to tell on him and taking away his power, his almighty power of the badge,” they told jurors, according to court records. “She threatened to tell when she was hurt … so he sentenced her to die. He served as executioner.”

Among the state’s evidence: a pubic hair found on Teresa that an FBI analyst said was consistent with Duckett’s, Teresa’s fingerprints on the hood of Duckett’s car, tire tracks at the scene of the murder that police say matched Duckett’s patrol car, and a key witness who testified that she saw Duckett drive off with a small person in his patrol car shortly after he spoke with Teresa.

Prosecutors also put three young women on the stand who testified that they were underage when Duckett sexually harassed or abused them.

Duckett’s attorneys have been working to poke holes in the trial evidence, saying that Teresa’s fingerprints were on the car hood because she sat on it at the Circle K, that a second hair found on the girl’s body was inconsistent with Duckett’s, and that Duckett’s tire tracks were at the scene because drove there after the body was found.

They also argue that the state’s key witness agreed to give bogus testimony in exchange for getting out of jail early and that there was no evidence to corroborate the stories of the three young women who testified that Duckett had been inappropriate with them.

Duckett’s attorneys also argue that there were far likelier suspects in the case, including the teen Teresa was talking to before she vanished and various men who were boyfriends or friends of her mother’s.

“For reasons beyond his control, James Duckett was chosen as the suspect, and other more likely suspects were allowed to walk away,” his attorneys argue in court records. “Rather than find the real perpetrator, the state chose to proceed with a circumstantial evidence case against Mr. Duckett.”

Just before he was sentenced to death, Duckett pleaded with the judge in the case to spare his life.

“I did not do this,” he said, according to court records. “When the person who did this repeats it, I want to see the face of the person telling the victim’s mother, father, sister or brother, ‘I am sorry. We thought we had the right one before.’”

An execution scheduled, then stopped

After spending nearly 40 years on death row, James Duckett’s execution was scheduled for March 31 after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed his death warrant last month.

Duckett’s attorneys fought to stop the execution so that DNA testing could be conducted on the semen collected from the crime scene. On March 26, the Florida Supreme Court agreed to issue a stay of execution pending results from the testing.

The results, which came in on March 27, were inconclusive, possibly because so little of the DNA collected was left to be analyzed. But Duckett’s attorneys had argued that a different lab would be more likely to extract useable results.

The Florida Supreme Court could have lifted its stay because the initial results were inconclusive. Instead, the court decided to uphold it on March 30 in a 6-1 ruling, stopping Duckett’s execution for now.

Duckett’s attorney, Mary Wells, told USA TODAY that the stay was “a significant step toward preventing the irreversible harm that will result if the State of Florida executes an innocent man.”

“DNA testing … has the potential to conclusively establish Mr. Duckett’s innocence,” she said. “When the outcome of the results is whether a man lives or dies, there is no valid scientific basis for prohibiting a second examiner to analyze the results.”

The state’s Attorney General’s Office had argued in court that the stay should be lifted because the DNA results were inconclusive and that Duckett sought DNA testing far too late.

“Duckett waited until after a warrant was signed to seek DNA testing for a murder he committed over 38 years ago where he knew about the (DNA) slide at least since the relinquishment in 2003,” they wrote. “But he did not seek DNA testing as soon as the science was sufficiently advanced. A truly innocent man would have sought … DNA testing as soon as it was available.”

What happens now?

In its order upholding the execution stay, the Florida Supreme Court ordered Lake County Circuit Judge Brian Welke to provide the higher court with a status report by the end of day on April 2

Welke is expected to decide whether there should be further testing of the DNA. Welke is the judge who initially granted Duckett’s request to test the DNA.

In his dissenting opinion to uphold the stay, Florida Supreme Court Justice Adam Tanenbaum wrote that Duckett’s DNA fight amounts to “a Hail Mary pass” and that given the inconclusive test results, there is “nothing further for (Welke) to do at this point.”

“Indeed, as has been the case for decades, there is no exonerating evidence at all to justify any further delay in the defendant’s execution, which has been a long time coming,” Tanenbaum wrote. “Justice for the victim and her family has been delayed far too long. The defendant’s time is up.”

Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers cold case investigations and the death penalty for USA TODAY. Follow her on X at @amandaleeusat.

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