Stephen Stanko, a 57-year-old convicted of murder and rape, was executed by lethal injection in South Carolina on June 13. He was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend, as well as 74-year-old Henry Lee Turner, and was the 23rd inmate executed in the U.S. in 2023. Prosecutors depicted Stanko as a cold, calculated psychopath during the trial, while his defense attorneys claimed he was insane at the time of the crimes.
The horrific details of Stanko’s crimes emerged during the trial, with evidence that he assaulted his girlfriend’s 15-year-old daughter before murdering her mother in front of her. After fleeing, he was captured days later while mingling with golf fans under a false identity. Stanko had a history of manipulative behaviors, having previously served over eight years in prison for kidnapping and assaulting another girlfriend.
Despite statements from his attorney regarding potential brain damage and his claims of seeking redemption and helping fellow inmates, courts rejected arguments for clemency based on cruel and unusual punishment related to execution methods. Stanko’s conduct prior to and after the murders characterized him as a con artist, able to charm victims and those around him. Friends and family of his victims, both described as trusting individuals, mourned their unnecessary loss, highlighting their kindness and commitment to others.
Stanko’s execution was part of a busy week for the death penalty in the U.S., which saw four executions. Subsequent discussions have raised questions about the effectiveness of capital punishment in enhancing public safety, particularly regarding Stanko’s long history of violence and deception.
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