Anthony Wainwright, 54, is set to be executed by lethal injection on Tuesday at Florida State Prison for the 1994 kidnapping, rape, and murder of 23-year-old Carmen Gayheart. Wainwright was convicted after abducting Gayheart from a supermarket parking lot in Lake City while he was on the run with an accomplice, Richard Hamilton, who died on death row in January 2023.
Wainwright’s execution will mark Florida’s sixth this year, following a wave of executions after a quieter period in 2022. Gayheart’s sister, Maria David, plans to attend the execution and expressed her frustration with the lengthy appeals process that has reopened old wounds for her family. She highlighted the emotional toll and the sense of “ridiculous” delays in seeking justice.
In their multifaceted legal battle, Wainwright’s lawyers have raised concerns about trial irregularities, including undisclosed DNA evidence and inadequate legal representation. Recently, new information emerged suggesting that a jailhouse informant who testified against him did so in exchange for lighter sentencing. Despite these claims, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his final appeals.
Gayheart, a mother of two, was remembered fondly by her sister, who described her as loving and patient. As David prepares to witness Wainwright’s execution, she reflects on her sister’s life and the years spent documenting the legal proceedings related to the case. She looks forward to the conclusion of a painful chapter for her family, hoping to find closure after decades of waiting for justice.
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