I Would Find a Girl Walking (34 page)

Read I Would Find a Girl Walking Online

Authors: Diana Montane,Kathy Kelly

January 28, 1986
Tuesday p.m.
 
Dear Paul,
 
Well, I have to admit you don’t look any older. You look real good Paul.
You really surprised me when you asked if I wanted my family, or you, or Kathy there when I go. Like I said, I would appreciate it if you were at my parents’ house just in case something happens to my mother. I can’t see my family having to see me die. Besides, they would be asked plenty about me, by the “news media.” As for Kathy, I wouldn’t want to put her through it. She means too much, and I don’t want her to see it. It’s bad enough she has to see some of that with work.
Paul, you have your hands full of stuff every day. I couldn’t put you through it either. Besides, we have been through quite a lot together these past 5 years.
By the way—do you still have that box of tapes of mine? Has Kathy listened to them? I know they are not C & W.
Paul, I want you to put all clowning aside when you do this for me:
Tell Kathy I like her very much, and I think she’s beautiful too. She is the “old fashion type.” That is what I like in a girl Paul. I would be very honored to have her as my girlfriend if I was out.
By the way, tell Bob Mitchell (I-100) to write me.
I have given up on my brother ever coming up again. You might be right Paul. He may be jealous of me in here. Someone has to make him see where he is headed. Paul, if need be, have him arrested if he keeps following these girls.
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Maybe that will help. That will put my mother in the hospital again. She can’t take anymore Paul. You know what I’m saying. One in prison is bad enough. Am I right???
Paul, when I get my warrant signed, call here and find out the procedure for visiting and phone calls.
Write soon Paul.
 
Yours always,
Jerry
March 6, 1986
 
Dear Paul,
 
Just thought I would write you a letter. I am feeling pretty low these days. Also, I have found myself daydreaming about the beach, my car and Pennsylvania. It’s not going to be easy on March 20. You know what day that is. Maybe it’s best I go out that way. I have been contemplating several ways to take myself out too.
I can’t stand to see my parents suffer any longer. They have their hands full with my brother now. It might be a little easier on them if I leave Paul.
It seems Kathy has a steady boyfriend. So, I struck out all the way around, Paul. No girl wants anything to do with me. I am just a born loser, and always will be till I die.
My relatives won’t even write to me anymore. Where have I gone wrong? It was September 12, 1951. That’s when it happened, Paul. Here, my parents thought they could raise me their way, not knowing what was to happen in the future.
What is my problem, Paul??
I’ll tell you what it is: I was born, and rejected from the start. My parents tried to correct it, but didn’t see what was happening.
Well, what’s the latest at the beach front? Bet you’re busy with motorcycle week, and the college students there. Would be nice to see the old place once more. But I’ll be watching from the big playground, and skating rink in the sky Paul. Maybe I’ll find somebody up there who wants me.
I have to say one thing: When I fuck up, I do it right
Paul. Even when I was out Paul.
They say, everyone gets a free stay the first time down there. Paul, I will surely crack during my first trip down there for sure.
Paul, I had to talk to someone beside my mother, cause she will have a heart attack if I told her this, and, what I was planning to do if need be.
 
Yours truly,
Jerry
“Casanova”
Three years went by before Stano wrote to Crow again, in response to a letter that Crow had sent him. But his letter focused almost entirely on his “fears” that a “contract” had been put out on him, fears that Crow felt were all bogus: another one of Stano’s mind games to get what he wanted (in this case, a transfer to Q-wing with all of his belongings and weekly access to the canteen).
August 11, 1989
 
Gerald E. Stano
079701- S-2-N-8
Florida State Prison
Starke, Florida 32091
P.O. Box 747
Starke, Florida 32091
P.B. Crow—Chief of Police D.B.P.D.
P.O. Box 2166
Daytona Beach, Florida 32115
 
Dear Paul,
 
I was glad to hear from you. Yes, it has been a very long time. I have been in the hospital 3 days for a slight stroke on my left side, but am doing much better now. They had to rush me there by rescue truck from here. This was towards the first of the year 1989. As for working out—I’ve had to cut way back—but still do my weights. The heaviest weight we have on the yard is 195 (my weight.) I used to pick it up like paper—but not anymore. Plus—I was up to 220 lbs—but have lost 25 in 3 months.
Paul, I am very worried about the contract out on me. It has gotten real rough here now—since the news clippings come out. They are calling me—“a fag—a punk—a bitch—a dick sucka—gay—lesbian, etc.” Plus, they also say that I am a
Dead man
. Where it is coming from I have no idea. Now follow me—I have written letters to everyone up to the Governor himself. All of my answers were the same
No help needed
. It is a proven fact that this place (F.S.P.) and the chain of command up to the Gov don’t want to help me. So that is why I turned to you Paul.
Remember the problem of safety in the Volusia County Jail in Deland? Well, it’s 100 times worse here. I have stopped going to the yard because of this, plus I am very nervous if I have a call-out for anything. When my family visits—I am watching all of the inmates cause I don’t trust them. Remember when we were in court—the Sheriff’s Dept had everyone sign in—doors locked and the floor sealed.
Paul, if they put me on Q-wing for safety reasons and security reasons—I will not have my t.v.-radio/ headphones—and most of my property, plus no canteen every week.
Paul, all I want is the following:
1) To be placed on Q-wing permanently—(2 EAST ONLY)
2) To have all of my property (everything I have now)
3) To have all of my canteen rights (every week)
4) To have my visits behind glass for safety reasons
5) To have my radio/headphones (to be played with headphones only)
I have asked that to everyone up to the Governor—and they won’t help me. They want
physical contact
first—then they will take measures for my safety. If I get stabbed in the right places, I’ll die before medical treatment can be done on me. Why wait for that to happen Paul. That is why you had me put in a single cell in the County Jail—plus all of the security when I went to court. It will take you—and other officials outside to move me to Q-wing with my 5 requests. For God’s sake, and my parents—please help me now with this. My parents are aware of the contract—and what I want done.
Please— don’t
let me down. You are my last hope. If need be—please contact John Tanner. He might be of some help.
I had a legal visit yesterday from my lawyer. Whatever you do—
DON’T HELP HIM PLEASE
. It will mean
sure death
for me Paul. This is the person who said, “this is an outstanding warrant in Volusia County for me.” Tell Dave Hudson the same thing. This is trouble with a capital T.
When you write, please send it the same way you sent the last one. This is the best way to handle the mail.
Paul, I wouldn’t be surprised if he
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was behind the contract. Paul, please help me. I’m scared about my safety.
Who did you talk to in the Attorney General’s Office—and who did you talk to in the local State Attorney’s Office? When should I be hearing from them? Don’t leave me hanging in mid-air.
If my lawyer finds out we are writing—he will have a
Cow
. Plus, I will get bawled out big time.
Write soon,
 
Yours truly,
Jerry
TIMELINE
Here are the key dates in the story of the serial killer arrested in 1980 after murdering women throughout Florida. Investigators documented forty cases, although he claimed to have been even more prolific.
 
—September 12, 1951: Born in Schenectady, New York.
—February 1952: Adopted by Eugene and Norma Stano.
—1966: Came to Florida to stay with his grandparents briefly, then returned to Pennsylvania until 1973, when the entire family moved to Ormond Beach, Florida, permanently.
—March 21, 1973: Janine Ligotino and Ann Arceneau found stabbed to death in Gainesville, Florida.
—January 19, 1974: Remains of Cathy Lee Scharf found in Brevard County, Florida.
—April 10, 1974: Remains of Barbara Bauer found in Bradford County, Florida.
—November 7, 1974: Stano arrested on forgery charge, sentenced to three months in jail in Volusia County for stealing a check from his employer at a motel in Ormond Beach, Florida, then cashing it.
—November, 24, 1974: An unidentified body is found in a wooded area by police in Altamonte Springs, Florida. In the case of “Madame X,” Stano claimed to have picked up the woman for sex, then stabbed her with a hunting knife when she refused.
—January 3, 1975: Body of Nancy Heard found near Ormond Beach, Florida.
—June 10, 1975: Disappearance of Susan Basile in Port Orange, Florida. Her body was never found.
—June 21, 1975: Stano marries Teresa Esposito at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Ormond Beach, Florida.
—July 22, 1975: Linda Hamilton found asphyxiated and drowned in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
—December 20, 1975: Susan Bickrest found strangled to death near Spruce Creek, Volusia County, Florida.
—February 11, 1976: Bonnie Hughes, 34, a Dundee, Florida, housewife, had been beaten in the face with a blunt instrument and was found slain in an orange grove February 11, 1976, in Polk County, Florida.
—June 15, 1976: Remains of Ramona Neal, who had been strangled and shot, found near Ormond Beach, Florida.
—September 23, 1976: Stano’s wife granted a divorce on grounds of physical abuse.
—November 11, 1977, to March 21, 1978: Stano worked in the mailroom of the
Daytona Beach News-Journal
as a newspaper inserter.
—November 12, 1977: Body of Mary Kathleen “Katie” Muldoon found shot to death in a ditch near New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
—April 9, 1979, to August 7, 1979: Stano employed as an apprentice mechanic at Zeno Marine, described as a “perfect gentleman” by the owner.
—January 27, 1980: Mary Carol Maher disappears from a bar frequented by Stano. She is found stabbed to death three weeks later—February 17.
—January 31, 1980: Stano started to work as a prep cook at Hampton’s Restaurant, Daytona Beach, remaining there until the date of his arrest.
—February 17, 1980: Remains of Mary Carol Maher found in Daytona Beach, Florida.
—April 1, 1980: Stano is arrested for attacking Donna Marie Hensley, who survived.
—April 15, 1980: Remains of Toni Van Haddocks found in Holly Hill, Florida.
—November 5, 1980: Skeletal remains of an unidentified woman found in Port Orange, Florida.
—September 2, 1981: Stano sentenced to three consecutive life terms after pleading guilty to the slayings of Nancy Heard, Toni Van Haddocks, and Mary Carol Maher.
—March 7, 1983: Stano receives two life terms in Gainesville, Florida, for the slayings of Janine Ligotino and Ann Arceneau.

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