Kayle Barrington Bates Executed For 1982 Murder Of Janet Renee White

TALLAHASSEE, FL – August 19th, 2025 – Florida carried out the execution of Kayle Barrington Bates, who had received the death penalty for murder, sexual battery, kidnapping and robbery of insurance worker Janet Renee White in 1982. 

Bates, 67, was strapped to a gurney, and received a lethal injection beginning at 6:01 pm at a Florida State Prison. He was unresponsive and pronounced dead at 6:17 pm.

Court records show Bates abducted White from her State Farm office in Lynn Haven, dragged her into nearby woods, attempted to rape her, brutally beat her, stabbed her twice in the chest and stole her wedding ring. He was arrested shortly afterwards, covered in blood, with the ring in his pocket.

State Attorney Larry Basford, who attended Kayle Barrington Bates’ execution, stated, “The wheels of justice turned very slowly in this case, but the defendant has now reached the destination he deserved for his cruel acts against Renee White.” “Her family, what's left of them, have waited 43 years for this day. We hope they find some relief that the death sentence first recommended by the jury and upheld many times on appeal has finally been carried out.”