Owen Execution: DOC briefing schedule and questions about Dr. Lazarou's bias
The State plans to execute Duane Owen at 6:00 tonight. DOC media briefings are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and following the execution. Also, Dr. Lazarou's questionable comments.
The State of Florida plans to execute Duane Owen tonight at 6:00 p.m. As of this post, Owen has not filed any additional petition seeking review of the federal district court’s Order yesterday denying his petition for writ of habeas corpus.
The Department of Corrections (DOC) plans to hold media briefings at 3:30 p.m. and immediately following the execution:
It is unclear whether any media outlet will be broadcasting the DOC briefings. If so, I will share a link on the TFDP Twitter (@FLDeathPenalty).
Yesterday, the Tampa Bay Times reported that Dr. Lazarou (one of the doctors appointed by Gov. DeSantis to evaluate Owen’s sanity for execution) made comments on Facebook criticizing the vigil planned at Florida State Prison tonight for the execution.
Here’s a screenshot of the comment.
According to the article, when asked for a comment, Dr. Lazarou said she wasn’t aware that the comment was public.
Also, her public profile picture was taken in the hallway with two correctional officers while waiting to testify at the Bradford County evidentiary hearing in Owen’s case. Here’s the caption:
Prior TFDP coverage of Owen’s case
The background of Owen’s case can be found here.
Background on the statutory process and the proceedings in Palm Beach County is available here.
The history of Rule 3.811 is here.
The Governor’s Executive Order temporarily staying the execution to allow for the Commission’s examination of Owen is covered here.
The Governor’s determination after the Commission’s report is covered here.
The four-part series on the history of Owen’s mental illness can be found here:
The transcript from the Bradford County’s case management conference on May 26 is summarized here.
An update on the pending litigation related to Owen’s execution as of May 31, 2023, is here.
Owen’s Motion seeking review of the Governor’s determination and the evidence attached to the Motion is covered here.
The first day of testimony in Bradford County is covered here.
The second day of testimony in Bradford County is covered here.
The Bradford County trial court’s ruling is covered here.
The Florida Supreme Court’s decision on Owen’s appeal of the Palm Beach County court’s orders is covered here.
Litigation update as of June 6, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. is here.
Litigation update as of June 7, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. is here.
The State’s Answer Brief and Owen’s Reply Brief are covered here.
The Florida Supreme Court’s decision affirming the Bradford County court’s determination that Owen is sane to be executed is covered here.
Owen’s petition for writ of habeas corpus filed in the federal court on Friday, June 9, is covered here.
The federal district court’s denial of Owen’s motion for emergency stay over the weekend is covered here.
Owen’s petition for writ of certiorari filed at SCOTUS on Monday is covered here.
The State’s responses to Owen’s SCOTUS filings are covered here.
The federal district court’s denial of Owen’s petition for writ of habeas corpus is covered here.
SCOTUS’s denial of Owen’s petition for writ of certiorari is covered here.
My thoughts are with everyone involved in the warrant and execution process.
Wowza! That woman is seriously prejudiced against him. People with neural diversity deserve treatment, not execution. His attorneys need to file an appeal to have him reevaluated by a professional who knows better than to let bias into the diagnosis.