A Florida man convicted of murdering a woman he abducted from the insurance office where she worked is scheduled to be executed on Tuesday, August 19. Kayle Bates, 67, will face lethal injection at Florida State Prison in Raiford, Florida, under a death warrant signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in July. Bates’ execution will mark Florida’s 10th execution of the year, setting a new state record, according to the Associated Press.
The Crime and Conviction
Bates was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, attempted sexual battery, and armed robbery in connection with the killing of 24-year-old Janet Renee White on June 14, 1982, in Bay County, Florida. White, a State Farm insurance clerk, was attacked after returning from lunch when she answered the phone in the office.
According to court records, Bates had earlier spoken with White and then parked his truck behind the building, waiting for her to return. When she arrived, Bates surprised her, overpowered her, and forcibly abducted her to a wooded area. There, he beat, strangled, and attempted to rape White, leaving multiple injuries across her body.
Evidence and Confession
Bates was discovered at the crime scene with blood on his clothes and the victim’s ring in his pocket. Investigators found a watch pin that matched Bates’ watch and green fibers on White’s clothing that matched his pants. A knife case found near White was identified as the same type Bates wore. Bates later confessed to the crime, cementing his conviction.
He was sentenced to death in 1983, a sentence that stood despite a re-sentencing in 1995 and various unsuccessful appeals in both state and federal courts.
Appeals and Lawsuits
Bates’ attorneys have requested additional DNA testing, but their request was denied. They also filed a federal lawsuit, arguing that Florida’s execution warrant process is discriminatory and unconstitutional. However, the lawsuit was dismissed just last week.
One of Bates’ attorneys, James Driscoll Jr., expressed his belief that Bates’ execution would be a “tragic miscarriage of justice,” stating, “Regardless of what happens, Mr. Bates is at peace.”
Victim’s Family and Final Moments
Janet White’s surviving husband, Randy White, will face Bates during the execution. Randy, who married Janet shortly after meeting her as a teenager, spoke to USA Today about his long wait for justice. “There’s been so many deaths in her family, and I thought I would pass and never see justice,” he said. “It’s going to be different to start life new again without this in the forefront … But I’ll never get past it. I will fight that until my last breath.”
Execution Scheduled for August 19
Bates’ execution is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. on August 19 at Florida State Prison. The event will bring a long legal battle to an end, as Bates’ case remains one of the most high-profile in Florida’s recent history.
