Florida on Tuesday put to death a man convicted of abducting a woman from an insurance office and fatally stabbing her. 

Kayle Bates, 67, was pronounced dead at 6:17 p.m. following a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. His death sentence was handed down following his conviction of first-degree murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and attempted sexual battery in the June 14, 1982, killing of Janet White in Florida’s Panhandle.

White’s husband, Randy White, witnessed Tuesday’s execution. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed off on the death warrant for Kayle Bates. (Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

Bates’ lawyers appealed his conviction and filed a lawsuit claiming DeSantis’ process for signing death warrants was discriminatory. The lawsuit was recently dismissed by a judge.

Bates’ claim that organic brain damage had not been properly considered during his second penalty phase was also denied by the Florida Supreme Court. 

Tuesday’s execution was the state’s 10th this year, a record. Across the United States, 29 men have died by court-ordered execution, as of Tuesday. 

Photo shows the gurney in the execution chamber at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

At least nine other people were scheduled to be put to death in seven states for the remainder of 2025.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.