logo
From conman to 'psychopath': Stephen Stanko's murderous path brings him to death chamber

From conman to 'psychopath': Stephen Stanko's murderous path brings him to death chamber

USA Today13-06-2025
By all accounts, Stephen Stanko is a smooth talker.
At 6 feet, 3 inches tall, with a shock of dark hair, Stanko was a striking man in his mid-30s. He would brag about being rich, buy drinks for everyone in the bar and hand his phone number out to women.
But those who saw through Stanko knew he was no Prince Charming, but a smalltime con artist.
Stanko's various lies included, according to archived news accounts: that he was a millionaire, he owned multiple hamburger restaurants, he had an engineering degree from a prestigious university, and he made bigtime deals in oil and real estate.
"He has a need for grandiosity," one forensic psychologist observed on the witness stand, according to a 2006 report in the Myrtle Beach Sun-News. Another one simply said: "Mr. Stanko is a psychopath."
On April 8, 2005, Stanko became something even worse: a rapist and a double murderer.
Now 20 years later, Stanko is set to be executed by lethal injection in South Carolina on Friday, June 13, in what will be the nation's 23rd execution of the year and the fourth this week alone.
Here's what you need to know about the rape and two murders that Stanko was convicted of and more about him and his victims.
When is Stephen Stanko's execution?
Stanko is set to be executed at 6 p.m. ET at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia. If it moves forward, it will be the third execution in South Carolina this year.
What did Stephen Stanko do?
In the middle of the night on April 8, 2005, Stanko attacked his girlfriend's 15-year-old daughter as she slept in her bed at home in Murrells Inlet, an unincorporated seaside community just south of Myrtle Beach.
The girl later sobbed and clutched a white teddy bear as she testified about the hours-long attack, according to coverage by the Sun-News. At some point, worried about her mother, the girl broke free and found her lying on the floor in another room.
The girl testified that Stanko then hit her over the head and she blacked out. When she woke, he raped her again and then pinned her body to the bed with his knee while he strangled her mother in front of her.
"I said, 'Please God, take me and not her,'" the girl testified as people in the courtroom cried, the Sun-News reported. "I fought hard but she stopped making noises, and that was it."
After he killed his 43-year-old girlfriend, Stanko then drove 25 miles north the Conway home of one of her friends, a 74-year-old man named Henry Lee Turner, a retired Air Force master sergeant and a father of three. He fatally shot Turner, whose body was found about 24 hours later, and stole his truck.
Stanko fled the scene, setting off a nationwide manhunt that made national headlines. Four days after the murders, federal authorities tracked Stanko down about 200 miles west to Augusta, where he was hobnobbing with Masters golf fans, introducing himself as "Stephen Christopher" and lying about his wealth. Stanko had also already wooed a woman, moved in with her and had even gone to church with her on the Sunday before he was captured, authorities said at the time.
"She said he was the nicest, most courteous young man," the woman's grandmother told Knight Ridder at the time. "You would never know he was a fraud."
Stanko's trial attorneys argued that he was insane at the time of the murders, and his current lawyers say his life should be spared because the execution methods in South Carolina amount to cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the U.S. Constitution, an argument refuted by state officials and rejected by courts.
USA TODAY has reached out to Stanko's current attorneys for comment for this story.
Some saw through Stephen Stanko before murders
Although Stanko was adept at charming some, others didn't buy his act.
"He was smooth and he was slick," John Gaumer, a colleague of Stanko's girlfriend, told the Sun-News. "It's a puzzle to everyone I know what it was that he had − that he was able to exercise so much control over her was a mystery.'
Her ex-husband told the paper that he met Stanko at her home.
"I didn't like him. He knew that I knew what he was,' he said. 'When we looked at each other, I just could sense that there wasn't something right here. But at the same time, you are being told that he is OK, and you want to believe that."
He said that Stanko had admitted to having a criminal past, likely as part of a plan to gain her trust.
"The snowing ... obviously it drew her in,' he said. 'It was all part of the barrage, the seduction."
The father of the woman Stanko wooed the weekend he spent as a fugitive told Knight Ridder that Stanko 'presented himself as a well-to-do businessman' who was 'well dressed and well-mannered.'
He added: 'He was a quite well-read, smooth-operating individual.'
As a local county sheriff put it, according to the Sun-News: "He's just a mean guy and a con artist."
Stephen Stanko had criminal past, helped write a book from prison
It's unclear just how much of his criminal past Stanko shared with his girlfriend. He had served more than eight years in prison for kidnapping and trying to kill another girlfriend in 1996.
He had been living with the woman in Goose Creek for six months when they got into an argument about his involvement in theft and fraud, and she told him he had to move out, according to police reports obtained by Knight Ridder in 2005.
The next morning, they fought again, and Stanko soaked a washcloth with bleach, put it over her mouth, and tied up her wrists and ankles before he left. The woman, who told police that Stanko had tried to suffocate her, was able to break free and get help, Knight Ridder reported.
Stanko pleaded guilty to charges of assault and battery with intent to kill and kidnapping, and was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, according to online court records reviewed by USA TODAY.
During Stanko's time in prison, he became an author and co-wrote a book called "Living in Prison: A History of the Correctional System with an Insider's View." On Amazon, the book is described as "a rigorous exploration of our correctional system" from Stanko's perspective "on the harsh realities of prison life."
Who were Stephen Stanko's victims?
USA TODAY was unable to reach family members of either of Stanko's murder victims for this story.
Archived news reports about who they were are limited, but both Stanko's girlfriend and Henry Lee Turner were described as trusting and caring people.
Her ex-husband told the Sun-News that the mother of three had a great sense of humor. "She was a vivacious, intelligent, compassionate woman who was a very good mother," he told the newspaper.
Turner's daughter, Debbie Turner Gallogly, told the Sun-News that her dad he met Stanko when he and his girlfriend went to his house to help him with computer problems.
"He's a very trusting person, a very welcoming person," she said. "He loved inviting people into his home for meals."
She told the outlet that she had learned a lot of life lessons from her father.
"Fortunately I have those to treasure," she said. "He was very much a man who was himself ... He was just what you saw."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Airforce pauses use of M18 pistol after deadly incident
Airforce pauses use of M18 pistol after deadly incident

UPI

time17 minutes ago

  • UPI

Airforce pauses use of M18 pistol after deadly incident

Air Force Global Strike Command prompts limiting the usage of M18, manufactured by Sig Sauer, after a deadly incident on Sunday at a Wyoming Air Force Base. File Photo by David Becker/UPI | License Photo July 24 (UPI) -- Air Force Global Strike Command limited the usage of M18 after a deadly incident on Sunday at a Wyoming Air Force Base. On Monday, the Air Force issued a "stand down" of the weapon until all bases can do inspections of the M18s. Officials said, personnel will use the M4 rifle instead. "We want to make sure there's nothing wrong with the weapon," said an Air Force official. A service member, who has not yet been identified, was killed Sunday after their sidearm discharged, Air Force officials said in a statement. "Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety and security of our personnel, the pause will remain in place pending the completion of comprehensive investigations by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Safety office," said Charles "Moose" Hoffman, the command's spokesman. Hoffman said it's still not clear if his death was a result of an uncommanded discharge, a negligent discharge or a criminal act. Sig Sauer manufacturer of the M18 in recent years and has had 77 lawsuits over alleged "uncommanded discharges."

Air Force command pauses M18 pistol use after airman's death at Wyoming base
Air Force command pauses M18 pistol use after airman's death at Wyoming base

Hamilton Spectator

time31 minutes ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

Air Force command pauses M18 pistol use after airman's death at Wyoming base

The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command has paused the use of a handgun following the death of a Security Forces airman at a base in Wyoming. The use of the M18 pistol, a variant of another gun that has been the target of lawsuits over unintentional discharge allegations, was paused Monday 'until further notice' following the 'tragic incident' on Sunday at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, the command said in a statement. Security Forces combat arms airmen at all command bases 'will conduct 100% inspections of the M18 handguns to identify any immediate safety concerns,' it said. The name of the active-duty airman, who was assigned to the 90th Security Forces Squadron, 90th Missile Wing at the base, and details of what happened have not been released. The missile wing said it was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the base or community. Security Forces specialists protect Air Force bases. The gun is made by New Hampshire-based manufacturer Sig Sauer, which is defending itself against multiple lawsuits alleging that its popular related gun, the P320 pistol, can go off without the trigger being pulled. Sig Sauer denies the claims, saying the P320 is safe and the problem is user error. It has prevailed in some cases. The P320 was adopted by the U.S. military as M17 and M18 pistols, and the M18 is now the official sidearm of all branches of the U.S. military, Sig Sauer says on its website. In 2019, Sig Sauer announced it had delivered its 100,000th M17 and M18s to the U.S. military. The pause is so far limited to the Global Strike Command, which includes more than 33,700 Airmen and civilians. The rest of the Air Force and the other armed services have not announced any orders to avoid using the pistols. 'Our hearts are with the service members and families impacted by the recent reported event at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base,' Sig Sauer said Wednesday in a statement posted on Facebook. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is in charge of the investigation. The command's statement says it collaborating with the Air Force Security Forces Center and Headquarters Air Force Security Forces 'to conduct a thorough review of the M18 and develop appropriate corrective measures.' Sig Sauer said it has offered to assist. The P320 was introduced in 2014. Sig Sauer offered a 'voluntary upgrade' in 2017 to reduce the weight of the trigger, among other features. Lawyers for people who have sued the gunmaker, many of them law enforcement officers, say the upgrade did not stop unintentional discharges. Earlier this year, Sig Sauer appealed a ban of the P320, M17 and M18 pistols by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, arguing that it appears to be based on inaccurate and incomplete information. The commission banned the weapons after a recruit said his P320 discharged while he was drawing it, even though his finger was not on the trigger. And just this month, Sig Sauer announced that the Michigan State Police is adopting the M18 as its primary sidearm. Several large multi-plaintiff cases have been filed since 2022 in New Hampshire's federal court, representing nearly 80 people who accuse Sig Sauer of negligence and defective product design and marketing. That's in addition to lawsuits filed in other states, including one in Pennsylvania last year alleging a wrongful death. They say the P320 design requires an external mechanical safety, a feature that is optional. The most recent New Hampshire case, representing 22 plaintiffs in 16 states, was filed in March. A judge heard arguments Monday on Sig Sauer's motions to dismiss the lawsuit or break it up and transfer it to districts where the plaintiffs live. There also was discussion of a 2-month-old law in New Hampshire, created in response to the lawsuits, that prohibits product liability claims against Sig Sauer and other gun makers based on the 'absence or presence' of the external safety and several other optional features. Claims can still be filed over manufacturing defects. The law hasn't yet been incorporated into the case. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .

Air Force pauses M18 pistol use after airman's death at Wyoming base
Air Force pauses M18 pistol use after airman's death at Wyoming base

San Francisco Chronicle​

timean hour ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Air Force pauses M18 pistol use after airman's death at Wyoming base

The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command has paused the use of a handgun following the death of a Security Forces airman at a base in Wyoming. The use of the M18 pistol, a variant of another gun that has been the target of lawsuits over unintentional discharge allegations, was paused Monday 'until further notice' following the 'tragic incident' on Sunday at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, the command said in a statement. Security Forces combat arms airmen at all command bases 'will conduct 100% inspections of the M18 handguns to identify any immediate safety concerns,' it said. The name of the active-duty airman, who was assigned to the 90th Security Forces Squadron, 90th Missile Wing at the base, and details of what happened have not been released. The missile wing said it was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the base or community. Security Forces specialists protect Air Force bases. The gun is made by New Hampshire-based manufacturer Sig Sauer, which is defending itself against multiple lawsuits alleging that its popular related gun, the P320 pistol, can go off without the trigger being pulled. Sig Sauer denies the claims, saying the P320 is safe and the problem is user error. It has prevailed in some cases. The P320 was adopted by the U.S. military as M17 and M18 pistols, and the M18 is now the official sidearm of all branches of the U.S. military, Sig Sauer says on its website. In 2019, Sig Sauer announced it had delivered its 100,000th M17 and M18s to the U.S. military. The pause is so far limited to the Global Strike Command, which includes more than 33,700 Airmen and civilians. The rest of the Air Force and the other armed services have not announced any orders to avoid using the pistols. 'Our hearts are with the service members and families impacted by the recent reported event at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base,' Sig Sauer said Wednesday in a statement posted on Facebook. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is in charge of the investigation. The command's statement says it collaborating with the Air Force Security Forces Center and Headquarters Air Force Security Forces 'to conduct a thorough review of the M18 and develop appropriate corrective measures.' Sig Sauer said it has offered to assist. The P320 was introduced in 2014. Sig Sauer offered a 'voluntary upgrade' in 2017 to reduce the weight of the trigger, among other features. Lawyers for people who have sued the gunmaker, many of them law enforcement officers, say the upgrade did not stop unintentional discharges. Earlier this year, Sig Sauer appealed a ban of the P320, M17 and M18 pistols by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, arguing that it appears to be based on inaccurate and incomplete information. The commission banned the weapons after a recruit said his P320 discharged while he was drawing it, even though his finger was not on the trigger. And just this month, Sig Sauer announced that the Michigan State Police is adopting the M18 as its primary sidearm. Several large multi-plaintiff cases have been filed since 2022 in New Hampshire's federal court, representing nearly 80 people who accuse Sig Sauer of negligence and defective product design and marketing. That's in addition to lawsuits filed in other states, including one in Pennsylvania last year alleging a wrongful death. They say the P320 design requires an external mechanical safety, a feature that is optional. The most recent New Hampshire case, representing 22 plaintiffs in 16 states, was filed in March. A judge heard arguments Monday on Sig Sauer's motions to dismiss the lawsuit or break it up and transfer it to districts where the plaintiffs live. There also was discussion of a 2-month-old law in New Hampshire, created in response to the lawsuits, that prohibits product liability claims against Sig Sauer and other gun makers based on the 'absence or presence' of the external safety and several other optional features. Claims can still be filed over manufacturing defects. The law hasn't yet been incorporated into the case.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store