Randy White fiercely protected his young wife, Renee. On June 14, 1982, after meeting her for lunch at their Florida home, he followed her back to work to ensure she arrived safely. He watched her unlock the door, wave goodbye, and drove off. Twelve minutes later, 23-year-old Janet Renee White was found stabbed to death in nearby woods.
“I kissed her at 12:55 p.m. They estimated her death at 1:07 p.m.,” Randy told USA TODAY. “You’re never ready for life to end so suddenly.”
Now, more than four decades later, her killer, Kayle Barrington Bates, is scheduled for execution on Aug. 19 in Florida. Randy plans to witness it, determined to see justice served for Renee. As the date nears, USA TODAY reflects on the couple’s whirlwind romance, the brutal crime, and Randy’s journey to endure the loss that changed his life forever.
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‘Who the heck is that young lady?’
At 19, Randy White was hanging out at a pizza parlor in Marianna, Florida, when a striking young woman walked through the door. “The second I saw her, I thought, ‘Who the heck is that?’” he recalled. The raven-haired beauty was ordering pizza when Randy boldly took her wrist and invited her to sit with him.
“She said, ‘I don’t know you,’ and I told her, ‘That doesn’t matter—sit down.’ From that night on, we were inseparable, seeing each other every day until we married just 10 weeks later,” he said.
That night, Renee went home and told her mother, “I’ve met the man of my dreams.” Randy remembers their whirlwind romance vividly: “We were crazy about each other—completely, head over heels.”
‘She always wanted to be somebody’
Eight years into their marriage, Randy and Renee White still lived like newlyweds. Renee’s love for travel and spontaneous adventures kept life exciting. Just weeks into dating, she suggested at 1:30 a.m., “Let’s go to Jacksonville.” Three hours later, they were there.
Her impulsive streak didn’t fade. When a friend in Chicago offered them Led Zeppelin tickets, she gave Randy a choice: “Come with me or I’ll go without you.” They planned for five days—stayed twelve.
“She did things like that all the time,” Randy said. “I never knew where I’d end up with her.”
While Randy worked in business supply sales for Maxwell House Coffee, Renee managed a State Farm office in Lynn Haven, Florida, and took night classes, determined to open her own insurance agency. “She always wanted to be somebody,” Randy said.
The couple often talked about having children. By 1982, at ages 27 and 24, they decided the time was right. “She wanted kids more than anything,” Randy recalled.
A shocking attack: ‘Renee fought back’
On June 14, 1982, Randy and Renee White’s life together shattered. After a romantic weekend at Cape San Blas and Shell Island, they returned to their Lynn Haven home for lunch. While Renee watched her favorite soap, Days of Our Lives, Randy made her a sandwich. When it was time to return to work, he followed her back to the office to ensure she arrived safely—unaware danger was already inside.
Court records show that Kyle Barrington Bates had broken in through the back and was waiting. As Renee walked in, the phone rang. She answered, but before she could greet the caller, Bates appeared. She screamed, and he cut the cord. The woman on the other end called police immediately—but it was already too late.
Bates overpowered Renee, dragged her into nearby woods, and brutally attacked her. He beat, strangled, and stabbed her twice in the chest. Court documents note “one-sided sexual conduct,” a term Randy disputes. Both their underwear carried evidence linking Bates to the assault.
Within 15 minutes of leaving Renee, Randy received a call about an emergency at her office. At the scene, a sheriff’s chaplain delivered the devastating news: his wife had been murdered. “I completely lost it,” Randy recalled.
Police quickly spotted Bates, covered in blood and carrying Renee’s wedding ring. Despite admitting to taking her into the woods, he denied killing her. A jury convicted him of murder and other charges, sentencing him to death.
‘Your wife’s been murdered’
Grief consumed Randy White after Renee’s murder. He withdrew from friends, turned to cocaine to “block out the demons,” and abandoned his dream of becoming a father. “After she was killed, that part of me went away,” he said. “It destroyed me. I thought, ‘I’m done. I’m not bringing a child into this world.’”
Seven years later, fate intervened. Walking into his hair salon, Randy noticed the new receptionist and thought, for the second time in his life, “Who the heck is that girl?” That woman, Jennifer, became his wife. They’ve now been married 29 years.
“She was a blessing,” Randy said. “She pulled me out of the depths of hell.” In 1995, he quit cocaine cold turkey, flushing it down the toilet, and never touched it again.
Now 70, Randy says he’s “better than I’ve ever been” but still feels the ache of loss. “It’s not depression—it’s loneliness. I’ll always be lonely for her.”
As the Aug. 19 execution date for Kayle Barrington Bates approaches, Randy is preparing to witness it. “This has been hanging over me for 43 years. At least I can finally put this part behind me. But I’ll never get past it. I’ll fight that until my last breath.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were Randy and Renee White?
Randy and Janet Renee White were a young couple from Florida who married just 10 weeks after meeting in 1974. Their relationship was filled with adventure, spontaneous travel, and deep affection.
How did Randy and Renee meet?
They met at a pizza parlor in Marianna, Florida. Randy instantly noticed Renee’s beauty and charm, and the two quickly became inseparable, eventually marrying in just over two months.
What happened to Renee White?
On June 14, 1982, Renee was attacked at her workplace in Lynn Haven, Florida. She was beaten, strangled, and fatally stabbed by Kayle Barrington Bates, who had broken into the office.
Who was convicted of Renee’s murder?
Kayle Barrington Bates was arrested shortly after the crime, found with blood on his clothes and Renee’s wedding ring in his pocket. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death.
When is Bates scheduled to be executed?
Bates is scheduled for execution by lethal injection in Florida on August 19, 2025, more than four decades after Renee’s murder.
How did Randy cope after Renee’s death?
Randy struggled with grief, became reclusive, and battled a cocaine addiction for years before eventually finding stability, remarrying, and quitting drugs in 1995.
Did Randy ever remarry?
Yes. In 1990, Randy met Jennifer, who he credits with helping him recover from the darkest period of his life. They have been married for 29 years.
Conclusion
Randy and Renee White’s love story began with an instant spark and a whirlwind romance that turned into eight years of adventure and devotion. That happiness ended in unimaginable tragedy, but Randy’s journey since has been one of survival, resilience, and the search for justice. As the execution of Kayle Barrington Bates approaches more than four decades later, Randy hopes to close a painful chapter—though the love he shared with Renee will always remain. Her memory continues to inspire him, a reminder that even in the shadow of loss, love leaves a mark no time or tragedy can erase.
