Latest news with #BayCounty
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Execution date set for Florida man convicted of kidnapping, killing woman
More than 43 years after Janet White was abducted from a Bay County insurance office and murdered, an execution date has been set for convicted killer Kayle Barrington Bates. Bates, 67, is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection on Aug. 19 at Florida State Prison. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the death warrant last Friday after the U.S. Supreme Court on June 30 declined to take up an appeal by Bates related to a juror in his trial. Bates was convicted in the June 14, 1982, murder of White, who was abducted from a State Farm insurance office where she worked. He also was convicted of kidnapping, attempted sexual battery and armed robbery. A brief filed last year at the Florida Supreme Court by the state Attorney General's Office said Bates broke into the insurance office while White was out to lunch and surprised her when she returned. "When Bates surprised White, she let out a bone-chilling scream and fought for her life," the brief said. "He overpowered her and forcibly took her from the office building to the woods where he savagely beat, strangled and attempted to rape her, leaving approximately 30 contusions, abrasions and lacerations on various parts of her face and body. Bates was found at the scene of the crime and he had the victim's blood on his clothing. He had the victim's ring in his pocket." Bates was convicted in 1983 and sentenced to death, but a judge years later ordered a new sentencing hearing. Bates was sentenced to death again in 1995, according to court documents. The Florida Supreme Court last year rejected an appeal in which Bates sought to interview a juror from his 1983 trial. The appeal involved a potential family relationship between the juror and White, but Justice John Couriel wrote that "Bates' effort to interview one of his jurors is 40 years late." After the Florida Supreme Court ruling, Bates went to the U.S. Supreme Court, leading to the June 30 decision denying his petition. DeSantis signed the Bates death warrant three days after the state executed Michael Bell in the 1993 murders of two people outside a Jacksonville bar. With the Bell execution, the state matched a modern-era record of eight executions in a year. The state also is scheduled July 31 to execute Edward Zakrzewski, who was convicted of murdering his wife and two children in 1994 in Okaloosa County. Attorneys for Zakrzewski have asked the Florida Supreme Court to halt the execution, though justices have not ruled on it yet. Florida also executed eight inmates in 1984 and 2014, the most since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 after a U.S. Supreme Court decision halted executions in 1972. Other inmates executed this year were Thomas Gudinas on June 24; Anthony Wainwright on June 10; Glen Rogers on May 15; Jeffrey Hutchinson on May 1; Michael Tanzi on April 8; Edward James on March 20; and James Ford on Feb. 13.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Fox News
Execution date set for Florida man convicted of kidnapping woman, killing her
A man on death row in Florida is scheduled to be executed next month for his conviction of abducting a woman from an insurance office and killing her. Kayle Bates, 67, is set to be put to death on Aug. 19 in the 10th execution scheduled for this year in Florida. Bates was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and attempted sexual battery in connection with the June 14, 1982, death of 24-year-old Janet White in Bay County. He was accused of abducting White from the State Farm insurance office where she worked before taking her into the woods behind the building, at which point he attempted to rape her, stabbed her to death, and tore a diamond ring from one of her fingers, according to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier's summary of the case. According to court records, Bates was a delivery man for a Tallahassee paper company and had made at least one earlier delivery stop at the insurance office. He had broken into the insurance office while White was on her lunch break and waited for her to return. Last year, the Florida Supreme Court rejected an appeal regarding a juror from his initial trial. The U.S. Supreme Court also denied a petition on June 30. Bates' attorney, James Driscoll Jr., said he would be filing further appeals in the case. "We believe his execution would violate the U.S. constitution," he told The Associated Press. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Bates' death warrant on Friday, just three days after the state executed Michael Bell for shooting and killing two people outside a bar in 1993 as part of an attempted revenge killing. Bell was the eighth person executed in Florida this year, and a ninth is scheduled for later this month. The state put six people to death in 2023, but only one execution happened last year. Bell was the 26th person to be executed in the U.S. so far this year in the U.S., exceeding the 25 executions carried out last year. This is the highest number of executions since 2015, when 28 people across the country were put to death.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Execution date set for man who abducted woman from a Florida insurance office and killed her
A man who abducted a woman from a Florida insurance office and killed her is scheduled for execution in Florida under a death warrant signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Kayle Bates is set to die Aug. 19 in the 10th execution scheduled for this year. DeSantis signed the warrant Friday, just three days after the state executed Michael Bell for fatally shooting two people outside a Florida bar in 1993 as part of an attempted revenge killing. Bell was the 26th person to die by court-ordered execution so far this year in the U.S., exceeding the 25 executions carried out last year. It is the highest total since 2015, when 28 people were put to death. Bates, now 67, was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and attempted sexual battery in the June 14, 1982, Bay County killing of Janet White. Bates abducted White from the State Farm insurance office where she worked, took her into some woods behind the building, attempted to rape her, stabbed her to death, and tore a diamond ring from one of her fingers, according to a letter from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier summarizing the history of the case. Bates' attorney, James Driscoll Jr., said in a phone call Saturday that he would be filing further appeals in the case. 'We believe his execution would violate the U.S. constitution,' he said.
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Execution date set for man who abducted woman from a Florida insurance office and killed her
A man who abducted a woman from a Florida insurance office and killed her is scheduled for execution in Florida under a death warrant signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Kayle Bates is set to die Aug. 19 in the 10th execution scheduled for this year. DeSantis signed the warrant Friday, just three days after the state executed Michael Bell for fatally shooting two people outside a Florida bar in 1993 as part of an attempted revenge killing. Bell was the 26th person to die by court-ordered execution so far this year in the U.S., exceeding the 25 executions carried out last year. It is the highest total since 2015, when 28 people were put to death. Bates, now 67, was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and attempted sexual battery in the June 14, 1982, Bay County killing of Janet White. Bates abducted White from the State Farm insurance office where she worked, took her into some woods behind the building, attempted to rape her, stabbed her to death, and tore a diamond ring from one of her fingers, according to a letter from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier summarizing the history of the case. Bates' attorney, James Driscoll Jr., said in a phone call Saturday that he would be filing further appeals in the case. 'We believe his execution would violate the U.S. constitution,' he said.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Health officials issue warning after dangerous virus is detected in new location — here's what you need to know
Health officials issue warning after dangerous virus is detected in new location — here's what you need to know As our world warms and creates ideal conditions for mosquitoes to thrive, mosquito-borne illnesses are spreading along with them. State health officials in Michigan are recommending that residents take precautions against mosquito bites after detecting West Nile virus in the state this year, the Midland Daily News reported. What's happening? Because West Nile virus is potentially serious, officials monitor the human population, wildlife, and local mosquitoes for the infection. In 2024, 31 human cases were reported in Michigan. In 2025, Michigan officials first spotted West Nile virus in a dead crow found in Saginaw County in May. As of mid-June, they had also found the disease in a mosquito sample taken in Bay County. While no human cases have been reported yet this year, officials are concerned and are urging the public to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites. Why is the spread of West Nile virus important? West Nile virus is a disease spread by mosquito bites that originated in Uganda, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Although not all cases are severe, serious infections can result in high fever, inflammation of the brain, coma, or even death. West Nile virus is just one of the many mosquito-borne illnesses that experts are concerned about as global temperatures rise. Changes in rainfall and the active seasons of these insects mean that their territories are expanding, and regions that previously did not have to worry about malaria, dengue, Zika, and West Nile virus are now becoming susceptible. Michigan's warming winters are a notable factor in the region's increasing mosquito problem. These diseases have caused countless deaths in the areas of the globe where they originate. Without precautions, they could do the same in new regions, including the U.S. What's being done about West Nile virus in Michigan? Michigan officials are implementing measures to reduce the population of both adult mosquitoes and mosquito larvae, the Midland Daily News reported. However, they can't completely eliminate these insects, so they have also warned the public to do their best to minimize bites. Empty any standing water around your home, even tiny puddles caught in old tires, rain gutters, and similar small containers. Wear insect repellent and long clothing. Make sure your window screens are in good repair. The fewer bug bites you receive, the less your risk of exposure — and the fewer bites occur in the community as a whole, the fewer infected people there will be to pass on the disease to more mosquitoes. Do you worry about getting diseases from bug bites? Absolutely Only when I'm camping or hiking Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
