Latest news with #LakeCity
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
Florida set to execute man convicted of raping and killing a woman 3 decades ago
STARKE, Fla. — A man convicted of raping and killing a woman three decades ago after kidnapping her from a supermarket parking lot in Florida is scheduled to be executed Tuesday. Anthony Wainwright, 54, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He was convicted in the April 1994 killing of 23-year-old Carmen Gayheart, a mother of two young children, in Lake City.
CBS News
7 hours ago
- CBS News
Florida set to execute man convicted in rape, murder of woman three decades ago
The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected last-ditch appeals aimed at sparing convicted killer Anthony Wainwright, setting the stage for his execution Tuesday evening at Florida State Prison. The Supreme Court issued two orders Monday turning down petitions filed by Wainwright's attorneys. As is common, the court did not explain its decisions, which followed a ruling last week by the Florida Supreme Court that refused to halt the execution Wainwright, 54, is scheduled to be executed at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the 1994 murder of Carmen Gayheart, who was kidnapped as she loaded groceries into her Ford Bronco in a Lake City supermarket parking lot. Horrific crime Wainwright and co-defendant Richard Hamilton had escaped from a North Carolina prison days before the murder. Hamilton forced Gayheart, 23, into the Bronco at gunpoint and drove away, with Wainwright following in a Cadillac that the men had stolen in North Carolina, according to court documents. They subsequently ditched the Cadillac and headed north on Interstate 75 before pulling off into a wooded area in Hamilton County, where Gayheart was raped and killed. The men were tried together with separate juries in Clay County, after juries could not be seated in Hamilton County. Hamilton died in prison. If Wainwright's execution is carried out, he would be the sixth inmate put to death by lethal injection this year in Florida. Also, DeSantis has signed a death warrant for Thomas Gudinas, who is scheduled to be executed June 24 in the 1994 rape and murder of a woman in downtown Orlando. Wainwright tried to use health issue to halt execution In trying to get the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the execution, Wainwright's attorneys argued, in part, that exposure to Agent Orange before birth caused long-lasting cognitive and behavioral problems that need to be considered. That issue stemmed from Wainwright being conceived about six months after his father returned from serving in the Vietnam War and being exposed to the herbicide. A petition filed at the Supreme Court said little research had been done at the time Wainwright received his death sentence about transmission of Agent Orange to children and that, if considered, the issue could be a "mitigating" factor that would prevent the execution. "Here, Mr. Wainwright's circumstances exemplify the appropriateness of a recognition that the ultimate penalty — that reserved for only the most culpable offenders — would be disproportionate, excessive, and cruel as applied to his individual circumstances. … Although Mr. Wainwright did not serve in the Vietnam War, and was not even a viable life at that point, he was catastrophically and immutably cognitively damaged from it," the petition said. "Unlike veterans, who make knowing sacrifices for our country in the face of grave risks, Mr. Wainwright had no such choice." But the Florida Supreme Court had already rejected arguments about Agent Orange exposure, saying such evidence, if allowed, would not result in Wainwright receiving a life sentence instead of a death sentence. "First, while Wainwright says he was unaware of the cause of his cognitive and neurobehavioral impairments, his intellectual, behavioral, and psychological issues have been an issue throughout the postconviction proceedings," the Florida Supreme Court opinion said, referring to earlier appeals after Wainwright was convicted in the murder. "Thus, it is unlikely that one additional cause to explain this set of behaviors would result in a life sentence."
The Independent
17 hours ago
- The Independent
Florida set to execute man convicted of raping and killing a woman 3 decades ago
A man convicted of raping and killing a woman three decades ago after kidnapping her from a supermarket parking lot in Florida is scheduled to be executed Tuesday. Anthony Wainwright, 54, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He was convicted in the April 1994 killing of 23-year-old Carmen Gayheart, a mother of two young children, in Lake City. Wainwright would be the sixth person put to death in Florida this year. The state also executed six people in 2023, but only carried out one execution last year. There are four executions scheduled around the country this week, including another one on Tuesday in Alabama. On Monday an Oklahoma judge granted a temporary stay of execution for a man scheduled to be put to death Thursday. Richard Hamilton, the other man convicted in Gayheart's killing, was also sentenced to death. But he died on death row in January 2023 at the age of 59. Gayheart's sister, who plans to attend the execution, said three decades is too long to wait for justice. 'It's ridiculous how many appeals they get,' Maria David told The Associated Press, adding that each step of the appeals process reopened her family's wounds. 'You have to relive it again because they have to tell the whole story again.' Wainwright and Hamilton escaped from prison in North Carolina, stole a green Cadillac and burglarized a home the next morning, taking guns and money. Then they drove to Florida and when the Cadillac began to have problems in Lake City, they decided to steal another vehicle. They confronted Gayheart, a community college student, on April 27, 1994, as she loaded groceries into her blue Ford Bronco, according to court documents. They forced her into the vehicle at gunpoint and drove off. They raped her in the backseat and then took her out of the vehicle and tried to strangle her before shooting her twice in the back of the head, court filings say. They dragged her body several dozen yards from the road and drove off. The two men were arrested in Mississippi the next day after a shootout with police. A jury in 1995 convicted Wainwright of murder, kidnapping, robbery and rape and unanimously recommended that he be sentenced to death. Wainwright's lawyers have filed multiple unsuccessful appeals over the years based on what they said were problems with his trial and evidence that he suffered from brain damage and intellectual disability. Since his execution was scheduled, his lawyers have argued in state and federal court filings that his execution should be put on hold to allow time for courts to hear additional legal arguments in his case. In a filing with the U.S. Supreme Court, his lawyers argue that his case has been 'marred by critical, systemic failures at virtually every stage and through the signing of his death warrant.' Those failures include flawed DNA evidence that wasn't disclosed to the defense until after opening statements, erroneous jury instructions, inflammatory and inaccurate closing arguments and missteps by court-appointed lawyers, the filing says. The filing also says that a jailhouse informant who testified at Wainwright's trial finally admitted last month that he and another informant had testified in exchange for lighter sentences, a fact that had not been disclosed to the defense. The Supreme Court on Monday denied Wainwright's final appeals without comment. David, Gayheart's sister, said she feels cheated that Hamilton died before the state could execute him. She said she was 'overcome with emotion' when she heard the governor had signed a death warrant for Wainwright. Her parents both died while waiting for justice to be served, she said, but she plans to be there to witness the final chapter of her family's tragedy. 'There's nothing that would keep me from seeing this all the way through,' she said. Her sister loved animals and surprised her by training to become a nurse rather than a veterinarian, David said. Gayheart was two years younger than her sister but became a mother first, and David said she marveled at her sister's patience with her young children. 'She was here, she mattered, she should be remembered, and she was loved,' David said of her sister. Over the years, she has kept a book where she put every court filing, from the initial indictment through the latest appeals. 'I'm looking forward to getting the last pieces of paperwork that say he's been executed to put into the book and never having to think about Anthony Wainwright ever again,' she said.
Associated Press
17 hours ago
- Associated Press
Florida set to execute man convicted of raping and killing a woman 3 decades ago
A man convicted of raping and killing a woman three decades ago after kidnapping her from a supermarket parking lot in Florida is scheduled to be executed Tuesday. Anthony Wainwright, 54, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He was convicted in the April 1994 killing of 23-year-old Carmen Gayheart, a mother of two young children, in Lake City. Wainwright would be the sixth person put to death in Florida this year. The state also executed six people in 2023, but only carried out one execution last year. There are four executions scheduled around the country this week, including another one on Tuesday in Alabama. On Monday an Oklahoma judge granted a temporary stay of execution for a man scheduled to be put to death Thursday. Richard Hamilton, the other man convicted in Gayheart's killing, was also sentenced to death. But he died on death row in January 2023 at the age of 59. Gayheart's sister, who plans to attend the execution, said three decades is too long to wait for justice. 'It's ridiculous how many appeals they get,' Maria David told The Associated Press, adding that each step of the appeals process reopened her family's wounds. 'You have to relive it again because they have to tell the whole story again.' Wainwright and Hamilton escaped from prison in North Carolina, stole a green Cadillac and burglarized a home the next morning, taking guns and money. Then they drove to Florida and when the Cadillac began to have problems in Lake City, they decided to steal another vehicle. They confronted Gayheart, a community college student, on April 27, 1994, as she loaded groceries into her blue Ford Bronco, according to court documents. They forced her into the vehicle at gunpoint and drove off. They raped her in the backseat and then took her out of the vehicle and tried to strangle her before shooting her twice in the back of the head, court filings say. They dragged her body several dozen yards from the road and drove off. The two men were arrested in Mississippi the next day after a shootout with police. A jury in 1995 convicted Wainwright of murder, kidnapping, robbery and rape and unanimously recommended that he be sentenced to death. Wainwright's lawyers have filed multiple unsuccessful appeals over the years based on what they said were problems with his trial and evidence that he suffered from brain damage and intellectual disability. Since his execution was scheduled, his lawyers have argued in state and federal court filings that his execution should be put on hold to allow time for courts to hear additional legal arguments in his case. In a filing with the U.S. Supreme Court, his lawyers argue that his case has been 'marred by critical, systemic failures at virtually every stage and through the signing of his death warrant.' Those failures include flawed DNA evidence that wasn't disclosed to the defense until after opening statements, erroneous jury instructions, inflammatory and inaccurate closing arguments and missteps by court-appointed lawyers, the filing says. The filing also says that a jailhouse informant who testified at Wainwright's trial finally admitted last month that he and another informant had testified in exchange for lighter sentences, a fact that had not been disclosed to the defense. The Supreme Court on Monday denied Wainwright's final appeals without comment. David, Gayheart's sister, said she feels cheated that Hamilton died before the state could execute him. She said she was 'overcome with emotion' when she heard the governor had signed a death warrant for Wainwright. Her parents both died while waiting for justice to be served, she said, but she plans to be there to witness the final chapter of her family's tragedy. 'There's nothing that would keep me from seeing this all the way through,' she said. Her sister loved animals and surprised her by training to become a nurse rather than a veterinarian, David said. Gayheart was two years younger than her sister but became a mother first, and David said she marveled at her sister's patience with her young children. 'She was here, she mattered, she should be remembered, and she was loved,' David said of her sister. Over the years, she has kept a book where she put every court filing, from the initial indictment through the latest appeals. 'I'm looking forward to getting the last pieces of paperwork that say he's been executed to put into the book and never having to think about Anthony Wainwright ever again,' she said.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I've spent £20k on 24 doll babies – I spend hours a day playing with them, my boyfriend thinks it's odd but I want more
When it comes to babies, I definitely have my hands full. Right now, Louisa is in her baby seat and Albee and Harmony are sleeping in their cots. Zadie and Zelda are in the living room, while their big sisters Pieta, four, and Daida, two, are relaxing on their chairs. 4 Meanwhile I'm walking in circles in my living room, soothing Ozzie in my arms. In total I have 24 babies, but my house in Lake City, South Carolina, is peaceful and quiet and my beautiful children never get a day older. That's because I'm a 'reborn mummy'. As a child, I loved stuffed animals and My Little Pony, but I didn't really play with dolls. Then, in October 2022, when I was 39, I was shopping for Halloween decorations when I spotted a zombie doll called Ruby. 'Reborn mummy' I was so excited to bring her home and couldn't bear to box her away when the holiday was over. Suddenly, I had a reason to buy cute baby clothes I'd seen while out shopping. It was such fun to dress Ruby that I started to Google other dolls I might buy. That's the first time I read about reborns, which are hyper-realistic, life-sized baby dolls. They're works of art, sculpted and hand-painted to look just like real babies. I was blown away. Inspired by Ruby, I wanted to pick something a little different. In March 2023, I saw a reborn with two faces, painted to look like clowns. I fell in love instantly and called them Penny and Dima. Ozzie came next, and after I'd removed the nappy that is always placed over the doll's face by sellers to protect their delicate features, it was so exciting to unwrap him from his box and see his gorgeous face emerge. I've spent £350 on a reborn doll to battle my empty nest - my hubby is 'weirded out' by it but it's been life-changing By April, Albee had arrived, quickly followed by Zadie and Zelda. I never do things by halves. Within months I had three more – Daida, my gorgeous two year old, who is 81cm tall, tiny baby Harmony and Burgundy Rose, a reborn baby werewolf. It made me so happy to see them in my house. I even bought a baby car seat and took Ozzie to work with me. My shift patterns meant I had a room at work to sleep in that I shared with a colleague. I know it's a hobby many people don't understand – men in particular find it strange She walked in one day to see Ozzie on the bed and was shocked, thinking I'd left a real baby in there alone! Another colleague gave me an outfit for Pieta, my 101cm-tall four year old, that his daughter had grown out of. They never made me feel that it was weird to have the dolls, and, like my friends and family, they always want to hear about my new arrivals. But I know it's a hobby many people don't understand – men in particular find it strange. That's why I put a photo of me holding a reborn on my Facebook dating profile in November 2024. They're a huge part of my life – I can spend hours a day playing with them – and that isn't going to change. I've since met my boyfriend and he accepts it, but finds it odd. The other day we were sitting on the sofa watching TV as I held Ozzie. As I got up to get a drink, I handed him Ozzie, but he looked at me like I'd grown an extra head! 4 4 When I take the babies out in public, I get all kinds of reactions. Most people just think they're real, but when I explain they're reborns, I get everything from confusion and intrigued questions, to shock and fear. To me, they have their own personalities. Melitina and Burgundy Rose are energetic and cheeky, Daida is sweet and kind and Ozzie is peaceful. Unlike real children, they're all clean and quiet. They don't make a mess or damage things And, unlike real children, they're all clean and quiet. They don't make a mess or damage things. They're only there to make me feel happy. I love to share our life on my YouTube channel. I might take them for walks, 'feed' them with a real baby bottle filled with fake formula, dress them up for Valentine's Day or just cuddle them. Trolls have made comments, but they don't bother me. I think part of what upsets people is how much they cost. So far, I've spent £20,000, with Pieta and Daida costing £1,500 and £2,300 each. I've also made lots of friends with other reborn mums online. I can't wait to keep welcoming reborns into my life. If anyone thinks that's a waste of money, I don't care. I work hard and my dolls bring me a lot of joy. What could possibly be wrong with that?'
