Execution Looms for Killer of Lake City Mother Carmen Gayheart

Lake City, Florida, USA - Carmen Gayheart, a 23-year-old nursing student and mother of two, was tragically murdered on April 27, 1994. After failing to pick up her children from daycare, concern grew among family and friends, leading to a frantic search. Her last known whereabouts were the parking lot of a Lake City Winn-Dixie where, unbeknownst to her, she was about to face a horrifying fate. As reported by WCJB, Carmen was kidnapped at gunpoint by two escaped convicts, Richard Hamilton and Anthony Wainwright, just two days after they broke free from a North Carolina prison.

The ordeal escalated when Carmen was taken to Hamilton County, where she suffered brutal violence before being shot twice in the head. Her body was discovered shortly after, following a confession from Hamilton that led authorities to the crime scene. The heart-wrenching details of this case sparked public outrage and a wave of media attention as the community grappled with the brutality of the crime.

Justice Delayed, But Not Denied

Both Hamilton and Wainwright faced justice following their capture in a gunfight with law enforcement in Mississippi. The two were ultimately convicted of first-degree murder, robbery, kidnapping, and sexual battery. They received death sentences in May 1995—a decision that represented a glimmer of hope for Carmen’s grieving family. Hamilton, however, died on January 13, 2023, while on death row, leaving Wainwright to face his own death sentence alone.

Now, as of June 10, 2025, Wainwright is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison at 6 p.m. This execution marks a significant moment, as he will be the sixth person executed in Florida this year, reflecting an ongoing trend in the state’s application of the death penalty. Anthony Wainwright’s history includes not just his involvement in Carmen’s murder, but a troubled past of crime, stemming from a prison escape that paved the way for this heinous act, as reported by Tampa Bay Times.

Wainwright’s legal team attempted to file last-minute appeals, arguing that he was improperly denied the right to hire a specific lawyer. They raised questions about systemic failures in his case, including undisclosed DNA evidence and jury issues. Yet, these motions have repeatedly been rejected, culminating in today’s impending execution, a matter Carmen’s family has followed closely.

Family Reflections

Maria David, Carmen’s sister, has been an unwavering advocate for justice. She plans to attend Wainwright’s execution, expressing a profound sense of loss and frustration that Hamilton was not there to face the consequence of his actions. “Those mfers killed her man; they have to be executed,“ she remarked, illustrating the raw emotion still entwined with her sister’s tragic fate. Following the initial tragedy, a trust fund was established to support Carmen’s two children, ensuring they receive some form of support as they navigate life without their mother.

This case sheds light on larger conversations about the death penalty in Florida, especially as executions continue to be a fixture in the state’s punitive system. With four executions scheduled nationwide this week, the question of ethics surrounding capital punishment remains as relevant as ever.

The public awaits full coverage of the execution, as family reactions and local sentiment swirl around a justice system that appears far from black and white but is fraught with deep emotional pain. Carmen Gayheart’s story is a reminder of the lives forever altered by acts of violence, a tragedy that haunts her family while they seek a semblance of closure with the execution of Anthony Wainwright.