Jacksonville, Fla. – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed his third death warrant Wednesday, Sept. 25, for the execution of 73-year-old James Dailey. If carried out, this will be the 100th execution in Florida since the reinstatement of the death penalty in the 1970s.
Dailey’s execution is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 7, at 6 p.m., at Florida State Prison in Raiford. He was convicted for the 1985 murder of 14-year-old Shelly Boggio. Dailey is a life-long Catholic, a veteran who completed three tours in Vietnam and one in Korea, and has a strong case for actual innocence. Prosecutors have conceded that there is no physical evidence tying Dailey to Boggio’s murder, no eyewitnesses placing Dailey at the scene of the crime, and his co-defendant, Jack Pearcy (who received a life sentence), has signed a sworn affidavit stating that he committed the crime. However, the Florida Supreme Court has not granted Dailey a new trial based on procedural time bars.
Prayer vigils will be held across the Diocese of St. Augustine for James Dailey and his family, his victims and their family, for our society, which continues to impose violence in return for violence, and for an end to the use of the death penalty at the following locations and times:
Alachua County
Catholic Gators and GCADP will carpool to the Florida State Prison in Starke. Meet at Emmanuel Mennonite Church, 1236 NW 18th Ave, Gainesville, Nov. 7, at 4:30 p.m. Participants will attend the prayer service at the prison. Contact Miriam Elliott at (352) 278- 4342. There will also be carpooling from the entrance of the parking tower at 4:30 p.m. behind St. Augustine Parish, Gainesville. Contact George or Anne-Marie Diller at (352) 332-9780 or (352) 213-6669 or email gtdiller@ufl.edu.
Bradford County
Across the highway from the Florida State Prison Execution Building, Starke,
Thursday, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m. Contact
Miriam Elliott at (352) 278-4342.
Duval County
In front of the new Duval County Unified Courthouse, 501 W. Adams Street, Jacksonville. Nov. 7, at 4:30 p.m. Contact Jackie Gunning at (904) 449-3328 or by email at jmgunning@bellsouth.net or Sister Maureen Kelley at (904) 704-0313 or by email at mkelleyop@att.net.
Flagler County
In front of the Flagler County Courthouse, 1769 E. Moody Blvd, Bunnell, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m. Contact John Bangert at (301) 318-6832 or by email at astrodude9000@gmail.com.
St. Johns County
In front of the St. Augustine Beach City Hall, corner of A1A and 16th Street, St. Augustine Beach, Nov. 7, at 4:30 p.m. Contact: Nancy O’Byrne at (904) 422-3618 or by email at obyrnen@bellsouth.net.
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DATE: Oct. 21, 2019
CONTACT: Kathleen Bagg
(904) 262-3200, ext. 110/office
(904) 434-3909/cell