Florida Schedules 10th Execution in 2025 for 1982 Kidnap-Murder Case

Kayle Bates, 67, is scheduled for execution on August 19 in Florida, marking the state's 10th execution this year. Bates was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, and attempted sexual battery for the 1982 abduction and murder of Janet White, whom he kidnapped from a State Farm insurance office before killing her in nearby woods. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Bates' death warrant shortly after the execution of Michael Bell, who was put to death for a 1993 double homicide; Bell's execution was the 26th in the U.S. this year, surpassing last year's total and representing the highest number since 2015. Bates' attorney, James Driscoll Jr., plans to file further appeals, arguing that executing Bates would violate the U.S. Constitution. The rising number of executions in Florida reflects the state's intensified use of capital punishment under DeSantis' law-and-order agenda, contributing to a national increase in death penalty applications. Florida's recent executions highlight a broader trend of more aggressive death penalty policies in certain states across the country.