I Would Find a Girl Walking (33 page)

Authors: Diana Montane,Kathy Kelly

APPENDIX B

Stano’s Letters to Investigator Paul Crow

You see, you have a Det like Paul, and then you have Bozos out there, and you also have Blockheads.

—Gerald Stano to Kathy Kelly, November 3, 1985

G
erald Stano desperately wanted to maintain—from behind prison walls—what he felt was an important relationship he had with Sergeant Paul Crow, the lead investigator into the multiple murder cases. He would complain to Crow if he didn’t feel like he was getting fair treatment in the jail or seek his help in trying to improve his relationship with his brother.

Long after he was out of Crow’s custody, Stano continued to write him friendly letters, telling him proudly of his efforts to stay in good physical shape since he knew the police officer was a physical-fitness buff. The letters were chatty in tone and rebuked Crow in a joking manner for not writing more often.

For Stano, the bond remained with the man he looked up to as a father figure, even long after the cell door on death row had clanged shut.

October 7, 1982

To Sgt. Paul Crow

Paul, these past 2 days have put the topping on the cake. What I am trying to say is that I will probably not make it through the night.

I have already started the process so I figure it will be tonight when I leave this world.

Paul, sure we used to clown around, but I was serious about this last case. (You know which one.)

Paul please advise my mother and father of the situation and please give them their letters.

This is the last request or favor I am asking you to do for me Paul.

Please get my brother here to see me before tonight.

I can’t put up with any more of this stuff, papers, news, etcetera.

Yours truly,

Jerry

TO THE NEWSPAPERS:

I, Gerald Eugene Stano, would like to say at this time, I probably won’t make it through the night.

I have had enough news coverage. I can’t take any more of it. Let alone my parents whom I love very much. Especially, my mother.

I have tried to be above board with everybody but they won’t believe me. God knows how I have tried.

That is why I am going to leave this world. I have already started the process of killing myself. So I figure by tonight it will be over for me.

Any information you might want you can get it from Sgt. Paul Crow DBPD, Detective Division.

Respectfully,

Jerry

No way Stano would’ve gone through with it, taking his own life, said Paul Crow. “The bottom line is, he was a coward and an attention getter,” he said. Crow pointed out an earlier instance of these failed or faked attempts: when the sergeant first arrested Stano, he was in a holding cell at the Daytona Beach Police Department, and he attempted to cut his wrist with a tube of toothpaste, the old hard metal type. They were only faint cuts, though, Crow stated, and part of what the detective referred to as Stano’s “mind games.”

Tampa Area (no date)

Girls were from the Dale Mabry Boulevard area.

They were prostitutes.

Usually picked up within a 3 block area from the Alibi Lounge

Most of the girls were wearing slacks/pants with blouses. Some had dresses on.

What would happen is, I would pick up the girls and I would get asked the question of (What did I have in mind?)

Then I would argue about the price and try to talk them down.

That would start another heated word session. At that point I would say, “Let me get my wallet from under the seat.” I would bring forth (with force) my knife and stab the girls at least 2x. If I had my gun (borrowed) I would hold that at them until they gave me a head job, then I would get out of my car, and have them get out. Then I would tell them to take off their clothes, or I would kill them. By then I would have pulled the trigger or finished stabbing them.

I used the gun to scare them, even though I would stab them to death.

The girls were deposited on secondary roads, just off main highways.

Some of the pants were designer jeans.

Some were just plain slacks with blouses.

Some were dresses or shirts.

Some or a couple of the girls that had dresses or shirts on would have no underwear on.

Some had no bras under their blouses or shirts.

Some of the girls had sandal type shoes and some had loafers (maybe a pair of boots on.)

Their hair would vary in length, never past their shoulders. Usually was not held back. A couple would have their hair tied or held back with barettes [
sic
].

Most of the jewelry was costume (looked fake)—rings, necklaces, bracelets, etc.

One or two had ankle bracelets, which I took.

Most of them had handbags which I left or took with me and threw out on my way home.

The girls that were stabbed had numerous stab marks above the chest, and a few to the head and back area.

Some were also strangled by my hands around the throats.

A couple were laid down with their blouses part way up and their pants unbuttoned and pulled down about 2–3 inches.
Never
fully undressed.

A couple of that had dresses on were pulled up about waist high, but the dresses were never taken off.

Some were killed during the holidays and some during the years.

They were put off the roads about 15–30 ft. 5 covered (maybe)—not all of them.

Jerry’s cars and clothing—

My clothes were usually a pair of slacks, sports shirt, and brown or black ankle boots (zipper on the side.) Sometimes a blue (light colored) leisure suit with shirt to match.

73- Plymouth Satellite Custom green on green—4 dr.

77- Gremlin—Red—tag # CMR-804 FLA

Black inside—2 dr.

Tinted windows all around. (Black)

The bodies were taken about 30–40 min. in either direction. Never over that.

Also, my jewelry consisted of a gold Timex digital, gold I.D. bracelet with “JERRY” engraved, gold w/blue stone class ring (on right ring finger), gold chain and a gold ring on my left hand ring finger with the letter “G” on a black stone.

This gold ring with a black stone was lost somewhere around the Tampa Area.

My glasses were brown with lens that change in sunlight. Aftershave was usually Musk-Oil or Brut.

I don’t think any of the girls had any tattoos. Didn’t see any.

Paul—

Please read this carefully.

I want to explain something that I can’t say in person until you know about it first.

The facts are “Yes,” I am “GAY.”

I have been like this for some time now. I always used to wear tight pants, shoes with the heels 1 ½”, cut off shorts (shorter than normal,) and always a gold chainsilver charm with a skate, plus lots of aftershave or cologne and a gold I.D. I always wanted to stand out in a crowd whenever I went anywhere. Even with my parents.

As for Sammy
⁴⁵he had thoughts that I was gay. But I never showed anything to that effect.

Elmo Massey knew I was gay along with the rest of the “L” wing at FSP [Florida State Prison]. Because that’s where we all went for protection of ourselves.

I was afraid that something might happen about me being gay. I wanted to tell you before it went any further but was afraid to say it.

Paul—that is why I never had any friends. I guessed they sensed that I was gay. But what puzzles me is why my girlfriend and wife went with me. All I can say is that I let them rule. Whatever they wanted I would do.

Also, my apartment was always clean. No guy (normal) would keep up his place the way I would. If one thing was out of place I would know it.

That is why I also used to ride around with the stereo up, and the windows down. Not necessarily looking for a girl.

Plus, when I took the girls, wife and girlfriend, shopping in the malls, I would look at outfits with them, trying to help them pick out dresses, while the other men stayed outside and smoked cigs and talked.

Well, now that it is out and off my chest, I feel better.

But, if this hits the paper, I will be in big trouble up at F.S.P. or Raiford. Because that is what the
BLACKS
like to
see or hear
about, so
they can get them as their BOYS
.

Please help me out in this problem, Paul.

Jerry

At one point, Stano sent Crow a letter confessing that he was gay. Crow believed that the “outing” was really for Stano’s family’s benefit, and another one of his many mind games. Why would he have killed female prostitutes, Crow imagined Stano theorized, if he was gay?

September. 4, 1985

Dear Paul;

Hi guy! I thought you forgot about me being here.

Figured you needed time to unwind. I had two visitors in July. Lee Baker and Robert Smith.
⁴⁶They were trying to get some information from me by talking about some people I went to school with. I was very disturbed at both of them. Mainly Lee Baker, because he is an asshole from the word go. Bob was trying to ease the tension between us, but didn’t succeed cause I got up and walked out on both of them. Paul, they figured they hit a brick wall with
you. Well, they are barking up the wrong tree by coming to me. I am through with those people, and the way they treated me for 2 weeks over there.

Thank you for talking to [my brother] Arthur. If he doesn’t watch his step, he will land in here too. The family doesn’t need any more trouble. But, it stems from my father. He is the agitator, and the one who causes everything. Paul, please help keep an eye on my little brother for me. If you have to talk to him again, tell him I told you to do it, and get his mind right.

I am my own person in here. Nobody messes with me Paul. The Spanish men treat me like one of them, plus I am learning Spanish.

I have done a lot of searching on myself and it has paid off.

We have a weight pile on our yard, and I bench press 175 lbs. I also use a belt when I am working out. Usually I work out about ½ an hour, then play volleyball for the remainder.

Paul, do me a favor, please give those tapes of mine to Kathy, so she can see what music I used to listen to.

I listen to I-100 every night. Very happy to hear about Bob being promoted. He is a good friend Paul. The only one who was kind to me and to show me how to disc jockey at S. Daytona Starlight on Nova.

Now, about Kathy Kelly. As you know she is the only one I have consented to talk too [
sic
]. Reason is, she is a friend of yours and Donald Jacobson. Is she married Paul? Let me know okay? Our first meeting was touch and go. But we are writing each other and it seems to be going very well. Kat called for an interview with me again, and these people declined it. So, she wrote me a letter and told me they declined our visit, and yours too. Please give her a hand in getting this righted, as I want to see her again Paul. I am the only one who can decline an interview. NOT THEM. But maybe they see what I am doing. Please help with this, and tell Kat that you will help us get our interviews started.

I understand Kat hangs around the police station. Keep an eye on her for me Paul. And please help with our visits. Thanks—

As for my thoughts on helping potential victims, I will give you help Paul. Somebody has to do it. And I might as well be the one, with your help and Kat’s help. Paul, your [
sic
] right about you and I having the inside track of about the real me. But, I am covering it with Kathy too. People would fall over if they knew what type of relationship we have. That is why everyone (dets) was pissed off at us in the motor home, and they wanted it changed. But we stuck to our guns Paul. They came to us. I am being level with Kathy, cause she can portray it on paper. Then, the people can see what it was all about.

Mom and Bozo have been coming up every two weeks. I don’t know if you heard, but mom was hospitalized for heart trouble a while ago. The old man is a real ball buster. He always tells me, “Why don’t you just do yourself in?” Never asks where my case is. He just doesn’t care. If it wasn’t for Mom, I would go crazy. He has turned my brother against me too. Even Arthur hates him. That’s why I want you to talk to my brother and tell him where I sit.

I go up for Pre-Clemency Friday Sept 6. Then, Bob Graham takes my case, and then I get a warrant signed Paul. It looks like by the end of the year I will be sitting on Death Watch.

That’s why I want to see my brother, and you and Don Jacobson before I go. It doesn’t look good Paul. That is why I also want you to help Kat get her interviews with me before it’s too late.

Plus, I want you to promise me, that you will go see my parents (especially mom) when that day comes. It is drawing close for me Paul, and we have been through a hell of a lot, and I would appreciate your help in getting my brother up here to see me and keep an eye on him for me too.

I am glad that Steve (Paul’s son) is playing football. He will be a good player if he listens and works with his father on weights. You have the right attitude about spending all the time with him you can. That’s where my father went wrong. Never devoted any time to his sons.

Well, guess I will close for now.

Please help Kat get the interview, and come up with her too. I am asking on bended knee Paul. Also, have a talk with my little brother about coming up to see me with mom. Don’t mention anything about the old man. Just mom and Arthur. Also, keep him straight Paul. I would appreciate it very much too. I care what happens to him. If he were to land in jail, mom would surely land in the hospital, and who knows what would happen then.

Hope to see you soon. Also, write me when you get a chance Paul. But please, help Kathy get her interviews with me.

Yours truly,

Jerry (aka Hammer)

P.S. I have a G.E. Stereo am/fm mom got me for Christmas last year with a pair of Pro-60’s Stereo Headphones. Now, I can hear my music in Stereo and also listen to Bob (I-100) the way I used to. Tell Bob “Hello” for me and keep up the good work.

I have a new theme song, “Just a Gigolo” by David Lee Roth. Fits me to a tee.

Thanks,

Jerry

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