Florida's Execution Record: A Look at the Numbers
Florida's Busy Year with Executions
Florida has been notably active with executions this year, setting a new record with 10 executions in 2025 alone. The latest execution was that of Kayle Bates, a 67-year-old man convicted of a crime committed back in 1982. Bates was found guilty of kidnapping and killing a woman from an insurance office in the Florida Panhandle.
Bates' Final Moments
Bates had little to say before his execution. When asked for any final words, he simply replied "no". He did not request a last meal or a spiritual adviser. His family visited him early that morning, but that was the extent of his final interactions. The state employs a three-drug cocktail for executions: a sedative, a paralytic, and a drug that stops the heart.
National Context
Florida is not the only state with executions this year. Texas and South Carolina have each executed four people so far in 2025. However, Florida is leading the pack. Governor Ron DeSantis has signed at least 20 execution warrants since taking office in 2019 and has not held a single clemency hearing for any of the prisoners on death row.
Legal Appeals and Future Executions
Bates' attorneys attempted to appeal his sentence, arguing that evidence of organic brain damage was not properly considered during his trial. However, the courts did not accept this argument. The Florida Supreme Court stated that Bates had enough time to raise these claims over the past three decades.
More executions are planned in Florida. Curtis Windom is set to be the 11th person executed in the state this year on August 28. He was convicted of killing three people in the Orlando area back in 1992. David Pittman could be the 12th if his execution goes as scheduled on September 17. He was found guilty of fatally stabbing his estranged wife's sister and parents before setting their home on fire in 1990.
Statistics and Reflection
As of April 1, Florida has the second-largest number of death-row inmates in the country, with 278. Only California has more, with 585. However, with the current rate of executions, this could change. It is crucial to remember that the death penalty is a serious matter, involving real people and real lives.