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FLORIDA - A Florida man convicted of kidnapping and murdering an insurance office worker in 1982 is scheduled for execution on August 19th, following a death warrant signed by Governor Ron DeSantis.
Kayle Bates, 67, is set to become the 10th person executed in Florida this year, marking another step in the state’s active use of the death penalty.
Bates was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, and attempted sexual battery after the brutal killing of Janet White on June 14th, 1982.
White was abducted from the State Farm insurance office where she worked in Panama City.
Bates allegedly took her to a secluded area behind the building, where he attempted to sexually assault her before stabbing her to death. He also reportedly stole a diamond ring from her finger.
The execution follows the recent death of Michael Bell, who was executed for the 1993 killings of two individuals, bringing the total number of executions in the U.S. this year to 26, surpassing 2022’s total of 25.
Bates' attorney, James Driscoll Jr., confirmed that further appeals will be filed in an attempt to stop the execution.
Driscoll argues that executing Bates would violate constitutional protections, but the state has proceeded with the death warrant.
Bates' case has sparked ongoing debates about the death penalty in Florida, where capital punishment remains a highly contentious issue.
As the execution date approaches, Bates' fate lies in the balance of legal challenges and the state's judicial process.