Anthony F. Wainwright was executed on June 10, 2025, after nearly three decades on death row for the brutal 1994 abduction and murder of 23-year-old Carmen Gayart. His execution marks a significant moment in a long and painful legal saga that has haunted Gayart’s family for over 30 years.
Wainwright, along with accomplice Richard Hamilton, kidnapped Gayart while she was loading groceries into her vehicle in a supermarket parking lot. The two men had escaped from a minimum security prison just days before the crime, and their violent actions led to a multi-state manhunt after Gayartโs disappearance.
The chilling details of Gayart’s murder are harrowing. After abducting her, Wainwright and Hamilton drove her to a remote area where they raped and ultimately executed her with two gunshots to the head. Her body was discovered dumped by a roadside, igniting public outrage and a relentless pursuit of justice.
Wainwright was apprehended shortly after the murder following a shootout with law enforcement. Forensic evidence, including DNA, linked him to the crime, leading to his conviction in 1995 for first-degree murder, armed kidnapping, armed robbery, and ๐๐๐๐๐๐ battery.
Despite Wainwright’s initial cooperation with authorities, he later recanted his confession, claiming that Hamilton acted alone. Over the years, numerous appeals were filed, citing prosecutorial misconduct and unreliable informant testimony, but all were denied. The Florida Supreme Court ruled that mitigating evidence related to Wainwright’s upbringing would not have altered the sentencing outcome.
On the day of his execution, Wainwright woke up around 3:30 a.m. and declined a last meal. He spent his final hours with his fiancรฉe and a spiritual adviser, reflecting on a life marked by tragedy and violence.
At approximately 6:10 p.m., the execution began. Witnesses reported that Wainwright’s shoulders twitched and he took several deep breaths before becoming still. He was pronounced dead at 6:22 p.m., becoming the sixth inmate executed in Florida in 2025.
Maria David, Gayart’s sister, attended the execution, expressing her frustration with the lengthy legal process. “Three decades is too long to wait for justice,” she stated, emphasizing the emotional toll of reliving the tragedy through numerous appeals.
The execution of Wainwright coincided with the execution of Gregory Hunt in Alabama on the same day, marking a rare moment in the history of capital punishment. Hunt was executed by nitrogen hypoxia, a controversial method, highlighting a growing shift in execution protocols across the United States.
In just three days, Steven Christopher Stano is scheduled for execution in South Carolina for a brutal double homicide committed in 2005. As the nation watches, the conversation around capital punishment continues to evolve amid ongoing debates about morality, justice, and the legal system’s complexities.
The execution of Anthony F. Wainwright concludes a dark chapter for the Gayart family, yet the pain of their loss remains. As they seek closure, the broader implications of these executions resonate throughout society, challenging perceptions of justice and the effectiveness of the legal system.