Forty-three years after Randy White's wife was murdered just minutes after he kissed her goodbye for the last time, he has witnessed the execution of her killer.
Kayle Barrington Bates, 67, was executed by lethal injection on Tuesday, Aug. 19, for the 1982 murder of Janet Renee White, the youngest of five tightknit siblings and a beloved wife who dreamed of having children and running her own business.
Bates was pronounced dead at 6:17 p.m. ET. His execution is a record 10th this year in Florida, which is putting more inmates to death than any other state. It's also the 29th execution in the U.S. this year so far, a 10-year high.
The execution represents long-awaited justice for White, who was 27 when he lost his wife and witnessed the execution at the age of 70.
"I made a promise to her right after it happened that I would be there for every trial, every hearing, every appeal, and that as long as I was living, I would seek justice for her," he told USA TODAY after the execution. "I feel a relief that I can mentally let Renee know that justice has finally been served for her, and that's mentally what I need. It's always been for her."
