Tuesday evening, Florida carried out another execution by lethal injection. After over four decades of being on death row, Kayle Bates was pronounced dead at 6:17 p.m. on August 19, 2025. Bates was convicted in 1983 of first-degree murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, and sexual battery of Janet White on June 14, 1982, in Bay County, Florida.
Republican Governor Ron DeSantis signed Bates’ death warrant, leading to his three-drug injection: a sedative, a paralytic, and a drug that stops the heart. His execution marks the 10th sentence to be carried out in the state of Florida this year, reaching a new state record. His will not be the last either, as two more are scheduled to occur within the next month.
Attempt to Block Execution
Bates’ attorneys recently filed appeals with the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court and filed a federal lawsuit against DeSantis. All appeals were denied, and the lawsuit was dismissed by a judge after it was found to have issues with its statistical analysis. The Florida Supreme Court informed Bates’ legal team that they had decades to bring up these claims but did not. Alex Lanfranconi, a spokesman for DeSantis, said Bates did not have any final words before he was executed.
Since the United States Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, both Federal and State governments have carried out approximately 1,600 executions. Florida’s highest annual execution rate was in 2014, at 8 people. Now, they are setting a new record for the most to occur in the state. Texas and South Carolina are tied for second with four so far.
The Death of Janet White
On June 14, 1982, Janet Renee White was abducted from her insurance office where she worked and was taken to the woods behind the building where her kidnapper attempted to rape her. She fought back but was ultimately stabbed to death. According to court documents obtained by the New York Post, “Despite her best efforts, Bates overpowered Renee and forced her into the woods behind the office.”
Janet had just said goodbye to her husband, Randy White, when he got a call from the police that there was an emergency at her insurance office. “He looked at me and said, ‘Mr. White, I don’t know any easy way to say this … but your wife’s been murdered,” White recalled. “I completely lost it.” The documents showed police arrived to find Bates in the woods, covered in blood, with a wedding ring in his pocket that belonged to Janet.
Randy was 27 years old when he lost Janet and had so many dreams for their future, but it was taken away from him. He said the execution of Kayle Bates put him at peace and brought final justice. “I made a promise to her right after it happened that I would be there for every trial, every hearing, every appeal, and that as long as I was living, I would seek justice for her,” White told the New York Post. “I feel a relief that I can mentally let Renee know that justice has finally been served for her, and that’s mentally what I need. It’s always been for her.”
Upcoming Executions
A Department of Corrections Spokesperson, Ted Veerman, said Bates woke Tuesday morning shortly after 5 a.m. and had three visitors: his daughter, sister, and brother-in-law. He refused a last meal and did not wish to meet with a spiritual advisor.
His death marks the 29th man to die by court-ordered execution thus far in 2025. For the remainder of the year, nine others are scheduled for execution across multiple states. The next two scheduled are Curtis Windom and David Pittman, who are accused of separate murders that occurred in the early 90s in Central Florida.
