Kayle Bates who kidnapped and killed office worker is executed - 43 years later

The widower of a woman kidnapped and killed 43 years ago was overcome with emotion to witness the murderer's execution on death row last night.

Randy White said he has received "an outpouring of love and support" in the four decades since evil Kayle Bates abducted Janet White from her workplace, and killed the woman. Bates, 67, was finally last night given a lethal injection on death row, where he had been since the crimes in 1982.

When asked if he wished to make a last statement, Bates replied "no" and quickly became Florida's record 10th execution this year. His three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke follows the killing ofEdward Zakrzewski, who murdered his wife and children in the state in 1994.

Speaking at a briefing after the execution, Mr White said: "I am truly humbled by the outpouring of love and support from so many who didn’t know either one of us. I thank you from my heart. It means more than you will ever know."

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Bates was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and attempted sexual battery in the June 14, 1982, killing of Mrs White in Bay County in the Florida Panhandle. According to court documents, Bates abducted Mrs White from the insurance office where she worked, took her into some woods behind the building, attempted to rape her, fatally stabbed her and tore a diamond ring from one of her fingers.

Law enforcement and prosecutors worked on the case and Bates was swiftly arrested, however it has taken more than 40 years for his execution. Witnesses saw the thug had been strapped to a gurney with his left arm extended and the IV line for the drugs already in place when they gathered at Florida State Prison yesterday.

Bates began breathing more rapidly about a minute after the drugs began flowing, and then he stopped after about another minute. At 6.05pm, the warden touched Bates' face, shook his shoulders and shouted his name with no response. Several minutes later, he was declared dead.

Since the US Supreme Court restored the death penalty in 1976, the highest previous annual total of Florida executions was eight in 2014. Yet now, Florida has executed 10 people this year - more than any other state, while Texas and South Carolina are tied for second place with four each.

And Curtis Windom, 59, is scheduled to become the 11th person executed in Florida on Thursday August 28. He was convicted of killing three people in the Orlando area in 1992. Including Bates, a total of 29 men have died by court-ordered execution so far this year in the US.