Death Warrant

Veterans will present a letter to the governor on Wednesday in Tallahassee, urging him to reconsider the scheduled Aug. 19 execution of Kayle Bates, a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. The letter is signed by more than 130 veterans.

Justices upheld a lower court’s ruling and ruled Bates was “procedurally barred from collaterally raising” a series of arguments that have been previously rejected.

Curtis Windom was convicted of killing Johnnie Lee, Valerie Davis and Mary Lubin on Feb. 7, 1992, in Orange County.

Florida's Attorney General's Office argues the state Supreme Court should reject efforts to halt Kayle Bates' execution, saying he "forfeited his right to live" when committing the crime.

Kayle Bates' attorneys told justices that state prosecutors denied the jury truthful information necessary to a realistic understanding of his potential sentences.

Edward Zakrzewski, 60, was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. Thursday following a three-drug injection. Florida has executed more people than any other state this year and has two more executions set for August.

Edward Zakrzewski is scheduled for lethal injection at 6 p.m. Thursday for using a crowbar, rope and machete to murder his wife and two children in 1994 in their Okaloosa County home.

Curtis Windom, 59, is set to die by lethal injection Aug. 28. Eight other executions have taken place in Florida this year, with a ninth scheduled for Thursday and a 10th for Aug. 19.

Kayle Bates was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and attempted sexual battery in the1982 slaying of 24-year-old Janet Renee White of Lynn Haven.

Michael Bell was pronounced dead at 6:25 p.m. Tuesday at Florida State Prison. Another inmate, Edward Zakrzewski, is scheduled to be the ninth put to death this month.

Michael Bell would be the eighth person put to death in Florida this year, with Edward Zakrzewski scheduled to be the ninth later this month. The state executed six people in 2023 but only one last year.

Tuesday’s decision came hours after several religious leaders from across the state marched to the Capitol to call on Gov. Ron DeSantis to pause executions.