Kayle Bates, 67, was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison for the 1982 killing of Janet White, who was abducted at her place of work
A cold-blooded killer who kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered a Florida woman over four decades ago was executed by lethal injection in what marks Florida’s record breaking 10th execution this year.
Kayle Bates, 67, was pronounced dead at 6:17pm on Tuesday at Florida State Prison, after receiving a three-drug cocktail that stopped his heart. His death comes after Republican Governor Ron DeSantis signed the warrant – with two more executions already scheduled in the coming weeks.
Bates had been on death row since 1984, after a string of horrific crimes that stunned the Florida Panhandle community. He was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, and attempted sexual battery in relation to the killing of Janet White on June 14, 1982.
The victim’s husband, Randy White, was among the witnesses to Tuesday’s execution.
His victim, Janet White, 26, was snatched from her job at an insurance office, dragged into nearby woods, brutally attacked, and fatally stabbed, according to court documents. Bates then ripped a diamond ring from her finger.
Her devastated husband, Randy White, was among the witnesses to Tuesday’s execution and later thanked those who stood by him. He said: “I am truly humbled by the outpouring of love and support from so many who didn’t know either one of us. I thank you from my heart. It means more than you will ever know.”
At the planned execution time of 6 p.m., the curtain to the death chamber was promptly raised. Bates was already secured to a gurney, his left arm extended and the IV line for the drugs already inserted.
When asked if he had any final words, Bates simply responded ‘no.’ The execution commenced at 6:01 pm.
Bates’ breathing became noticeably faster about a minute after the drugs started flowing, and then ceased after roughly another minute. At 6:05 p.m., the warden touched Bates’ face, shook his shoulders and called his name, receiving no response.
A few minutes later, he was pronounced dead.
Bates’ legal team had scrambled to halt the execution, launching appeals and even filing a lawsuit accusing DeSantis of discriminatory warrant decisions, a case tossed out over “flawed statistics”.
Since the reinstatement of the death penalty by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1976, the highest annual total of executions in Florida was eight in 2014. This year, Florida has executed more individuals than any other state, with Texas and South Carolina jointly holding second place with four each.
With Tuesday’s execution, a total of 29 men have been put to death by court order this year in the U.S., and at least nine others are scheduled for execution in seven states for the remainder of 2025.
Executions in Florida are conducted using a three-drug lethal injection: a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that halts the heart, as per the state Department of Corrections.
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