On Tuesday evening, Florida is set to execute Kayle Bates, a 67-year-old man convicted of a brutal crime that has haunted the state for over four decades. Bates will receive a lethal injection at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke, under a death warrant signed by Governor Ron DeSantis. The execution marks Florida’s 10th this year—a new record since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, surpassing the previous high of eight executions in 2014, according to the Associated Press.
The case that led to Bates’ death sentence is as chilling as it is tragic. On June 14, 1982, in Bay County, Florida, Bates abducted Janet White from the insurance office where she worked. He dragged her into woods behind the building, attempted to rape her, stabbed her to death, and tore a diamond ring from her finger. Court documents paint a grim picture of the crime, which left a lasting scar on the local community. Bates was subsequently convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, and attempted sexual battery.
Florida’s record-breaking pace of executions in 2025 has drawn national attention. So far this year, the state has executed more people than any other in the country. Texas and South Carolina are tied for second place, each having carried out four executions, while Florida’s tally stands at ten and counting. With two more executions scheduled in the coming month, the state’s use of capital punishment is under increasing scrutiny.
Bates’ execution is not happening without a final round of legal wrangling. His attorneys have filed appeals with both the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as a federal lawsuit alleging that Governor DeSantis’ process for signing death warrants was discriminatory. The federal lawsuit, however, was dismissed just last week. The judge cited problems with the statistical analysis presented by Bates’ legal team and concluded that, even if the numbers were correct, they did not necessarily prove discrimination. On the same day, the Florida Supreme Court denied Bates’ remaining claims, including arguments that evidence of organic brain damage had been inadequately considered during his second penalty phase. The court noted that Bates had three decades to raise these issues but failed to do so in a timely manner.
As of Tuesday morning, a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on Bates’ final appeal was still pending. The clock is ticking, but unless the nation’s highest court intervenes, Bates will become the 10th person executed in Florida this year. The state uses a three-drug lethal injection protocol, consisting of a sedative, a paralytic, and a drug that stops the heart, as confirmed by the Florida Department of Corrections.
Bates’ execution is part of a broader trend in the United States. So far in 2025, 28 men have been executed by court order across the country, with at least ten more executions scheduled in seven states before the year is out. Florida’s aggressive pace stands out, with two additional executions on the calendar: Curtis Windom, 59, is set to die on August 28 for a 1992 triple homicide in Orlando, and David Pittman, 63, is scheduled for execution on September 17 for the 1990 stabbing deaths of his estranged wife’s sister and parents in Polk County, after which he set their home on fire.
The details of Bates’ crime are harrowing, but so too are the legal battles that have surrounded his case for decades. His attorneys’ most recent efforts focused on claims that the death warrant signing process was discriminatory, but the federal court was unconvinced. According to court records, the judge ruled, “even if the numbers were correct, they wouldn’t necessarily prove discrimination.” The Florida Supreme Court, for its part, was equally unpersuaded by arguments regarding evidence of organic brain damage, stating that Bates had ample opportunity over thirty years to bring such claims forward.
Governor Ron DeSantis has been a vocal proponent of capital punishment, and his administration has overseen the signing of numerous death warrants this year. Florida’s approach has reignited debates about the fairness and effectiveness of the death penalty, especially as the state continues to outpace others in the number of executions carried out. Supporters argue that the death penalty serves as a deterrent and a form of justice for the most heinous crimes, while critics point to the risk of wrongful convictions, the high costs of capital cases, and concerns about the fairness of the process.
The method of execution itself has also come under renewed scrutiny. Florida’s three-drug protocol is designed to render the condemned unconscious, paralyze the body, and then induce cardiac arrest. While officials maintain that the method is humane, opponents argue that it carries a risk of pain and suffering if not administered correctly. The ongoing debate over lethal injection has prompted some states to reconsider their protocols or even pause executions altogether, but Florida has shown no such hesitation in 2025.
Nationally, the use of the death penalty has been declining over the past decade, with several states imposing moratoriums or abolishing capital punishment outright. Yet, Florida’s recent surge stands in stark contrast to this trend. The reasons for this uptick are complex, involving political, legal, and social factors unique to the state. Governor DeSantis’ stance, the composition of Florida’s courts, and the backlog of death row cases all play a role in the current wave of executions.
For the families of victims like Janet White, the execution of her killer may bring a measure of closure, though the pain of loss remains. For Bates, the end of a long legal journey appears imminent, pending any last-minute intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court. And for Florida, the execution marks another chapter in a contentious and ongoing debate over the role of capital punishment in American justice.
As the clock counts down to 6 p.m., all eyes are on Florida State Prison near Starke, where the state’s 10th execution of the year is set to proceed—further cementing Florida’s position at the forefront of the nation’s renewed use of the death penalty in 2025.
