A man convicted of a heinous crime that occurred three decades ago faced execution in Florida on Tuesday. Anthony Wainwright, aged 54, who was found guilty of raping and murdering Carmen Gayheart in 1994, received a lethal injection at Florida State Prison in the vicinity of Starke. Carmen Gayheart, a 23-year-old nursing student and mother of two, was tragically killed in Lake City.
The execution commenced at around 6:10 p.m., during which Wainwright experienced slight physical reactions before stilling at 6:14 p.m. His death was confirmed at 6:22 p.m., as announced by Byran Griffin, spokesperson for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Before his execution, Wainwright issued a final statement; however, his words weren’t audible from the witness section. This execution marks the sixth death penalty carried out in Florida this year, with another one on the horizon for later this month. Contrastingly, in 2023, the state executed six individuals, whereas only one execution occurred in the previous year. This week witnessed four planned executions across the nation, including another set for Tuesday in Alabama, although a temporary halt was imposed on one scheduled for Thursday in Oklahoma.
Richard Hamilton, who was also implicated in Carmen Gayheart’s murder and received a death sentence, passed away on death row in January 2023 at the age of 59. Before the execution, Gayheart’s sister, Maria David, expressed that the 30-year wait for justice had been excessively long.
Reflecting on the extensive appeals process, David remarked about having to endure the traumatic story repeatedly. Wainwright and Hamilton had escaped from a North Carolina prison and carried out various crimes, eventually arriving in Florida. They kidnapped Gayheart on April 27, 1994, as she was packing groceries into her Ford Bronco. She was raped by the two men before they attempted to strangle and subsequently shot her, leaving her body near the roadside and fleeing in her vehicle. The duo was apprehended in Mississippi the following day after a confrontation with law enforcement.
In 1995, Wainwright faced trials for murder, kidnapping, robbery, and rape, with the jury unanimously recommending the death penalty. After witnessing the execution, David shared that although the legal chapter had concluded, she would carry the emotional burden indefinitely. The execution was witnessed by 17 family members, including Carmen’s husband, son, and mother-in-law.
Reflecting on the execution, Gayheart’s mother-in-law, Gale Gayheart, described Wainwright as a “coward” and noted a sense of justice being served. She lamented the absence of deceased relatives who desired closure.
Wainwright’s defense team pursued numerous appeals during the years, citing alleged trial issues and contending he suffered from brain damage and intellectual challenges. After the execution was set, they sought to delay it, allowing courts to consider further legal disputes. To the U.S. Supreme Court, they argued multiple systemic failings in his case, highlighting withheld DNA evidence, jury instruction errors, and unreported deals with jailhouse informants.
The Supreme Court dismissed Wainwright’s appeals this week, remaining silent on the reasoning behind their decision. A last-minute petition was made by his lawyers to halt the execution, emphasizing mishandling regarding legal representation choices under state law, but the plea was rejected by the high court just before the execution was conducted.
Elsewhere in the country, Gregory Hunt faced execution in Alabama for a murder committed in 1988. David acknowledged her sister’s gentle nature and written legacy, contrasting it with the violence she faced. Despite their age difference, Carmen exhibited a nurturing spirit with her own children that David admired.
Looking forward to closure, David has kept comprehensive records of every legal proceeding over the years and anticipates adding the final documentation of Wainwright’s execution.