LAKELAND, Fla. — Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd believes a former police officer who faced capital punishment this week for a murder in Lake County was also responsible for the abduction, rape and murder of a Polk County girl.
Jeanifer Weldon, 14, disappeared in 1987 after not returning home from a friend’s house. She was last seen in Lakeland. Her body was found a few weeks later on the Gardiner Mine property in Lake Meade. Investigators ruled her death a strangulation.
According to Sheriff Judd, investigators had circumstantial evidence linking James Duckett to the crime. Duckett lived near where Weldon’s body was found and had worked nearby. Duckett’s wife also said he had come home that night with scratches on his back, according to Judd. Duckett’s wife added that Duckett came home with a stuffed animal Judd believes Weldon had gotten that day.
Judd said there was never any evidence anyone else had murdered Weldon.
But he conceded investigators did not have any DNA evidence or witnesses linking Duckett to Weldon’s murder.
Jeanifer Weldon, 14, disappeared in 1987 after not returning home from a friend’s house. (Photo provided by Polk County Sheriff’s Office)
Duckett, a former Mascotte Police officer, was arrested and convicted for the 1987 murder of Lake County 11-year-old girl Teresa McAbee. Duckett spent decades on death row before being executed on Tuesday.
On Thursday, Judd said he could say publicly what he had kept to himself for 38 years.
“James Duckett viciously abducted, we suspect raped and we know from circumstance violently murdered (Jeanifer Weldon),” Judd said at a news conference.
Judd said they never pursued charges in the Weldon case because Duckett was already facing capital punishment for McAbee’s murder. He feared a second trial might slow down the execution.
Weldon’s body was found on the Gardiner Mine property in Lake Meade. Investigators ruled her death a strangulation. (Photo provided by Polk County Sheriff’s Office)
He did send investigators last week to see if Duckett would confess to Weldon’s murder. He said Duckett refused to see them.
“He was a psychopathic, murdering, egotistical, vicious child pedophile up to the very end,” Judd said.
Two of Weldon’s sisters and one of her close friends joined Judd for the news conference.
“I’m confident the right person was executed,” said Amy Weldon, one of Jeanifer’s sisters. “I don’t like how long it took. But I’m confident — 100% confident — the right person is dead.”
Judd said they will meet with the state attorney’s office, hoping to have the case be considered “exceptionally cleared due to the death of the offender,” and no longer considered a cold case.
Jeff Butera
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