Offender Record · OFF-2026-178
Eugene Paul Stano (photo from the Radford University biography)
Eugene Paul Stano
Also known as Gerald Eugene Stano, Paul Zeininger
Sex
Male
Race
White
Height
6'0"
Weight
200 lbs
Born
1951
Custody
Deceased
States
NY, PA, FL
Distinguishing featuresShort and pudgy
Custody
Executed by electrocution on March 23, 1998, at Florida State Prison, Starke, Florida.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Where a record says named by police, no charge was ever filed: the record rests on a law enforcement agency's public identification of the deceased person, cited below. Not guilty by reason of insanity means the court found the act proven but the person not criminally responsible. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Eugene Paul Stano was born Paul Zeininger on September 12, 1951, in Schenectady, New York, and was adopted as an infant by Eugene and Norma Stano. He was convicted of nine first-degree murders in Florida between 1973 and 1980, including the murders of Mary Carol Maher, Toni Van Haddocks, Nancy Heard, Susan Bickrest, Mary Kathleen Muldoon, and Cathy Lee Scharf. Stano confessed to 41 murders and was suspected by law enforcement of committing up to 88 murders across Florida, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. He was arrested on April 1, 1980, after attacking a woman in Daytona Beach. He pleaded guilty to multiple murders and was convicted of one murder at trial. Stano received two death sentences and six life sentences. He was executed by electric chair on March 23, 1998, at Florida State Prison.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Dec 1973, Port Orange, Florida
First-degree murder of Cathy Lee Scharf
Brevard County · Brevard County Circuit Court · Florida first-degree murder statute · Arrested 1981 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death penalty
Cathy Lee Scharf, 17 years old, disappeared on November 14, 1973, from Port Orange, Florida. Her decomposed remains were discovered on January 19, 1974, in a ditch near Titusville, Florida. Stano confessed to picking her up while hitchhiking and offered her a ride to a skating rink. He was tried twice for her murder; the first trial ended in mistrial in September 1983, and on December 2, 1983, he was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Stano, Eugene Paul; Stano v. State, 473 So.2d 1282 (Fla.1985); Stano v. State, 473 So.2d 1282 (Fla.1985); Gerald Eugene Stano – Odyssey of Murder; Gerald Eugene Stano (1951-1998) - Find a Grave
Offense date Jan 03, 1975, Port Orange, Florida
First-degree murder of Nancy Jean Heard
Daytona Beach Police Department, Volusia County · Volusia County Circuit Court · Florida first-degree murder statute · Arrested Apr 01, 1980 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment
Nancy Jean Heard, a 24-year-old woman, was strangled to death on January 3, 1975, in Port Orange, Florida. Stano pleaded guilty to her murder.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Stano, Eugene Paul; Stano v. Butterworth, 889 F.2d 962 (11th Cir. 1989)
Offense date Dec 20, 1975, Volusia County, Florida
First-degree murder of Susan Bickrest
Volusia County · Volusia County Circuit Court · Florida first-degree murder statute · Arrested Aug 15, 1982 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death penalty
Susan Bickrest, a 24-year-old woman, was strangled to death on December 20, 1975. Her body was discovered floating in Spruce Creek, Volusia County, on December 19, 1975. Stano confessed to her murder on August 15, 1982, and pleaded guilty on June 8, 1983.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Stano, Eugene Paul; Stano v. Butterworth, 889 F.2d 962 (11th Cir. 1989)
Offense date Nov 11, 1977, Daytona Beach, Florida
First-degree murder of Mary Kathleen Muldoon
Volusia County · Volusia County Circuit Court · Florida first-degree murder statute · Arrested 1982 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death penalty
Mary Kathleen Muldoon, 23 years old, was found shot to death in a drainage ditch in an isolated area of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, in November 1977. Stano was indicted for her murder on January 18, 1983, pleaded guilty on June 8, 1983, and was sentenced to death.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Stano, Eugene Paul; Stano v. Butterworth, 889 F.2d 962 (11th Cir. 1989)
Offense date Feb 16, 1980, Daytona Beach area, Florida
First-degree murder of Toni Van Haddocks
Daytona Beach Police Department, Volusia County · Volusia County Circuit Court · Florida first-degree murder statute · Arrested Apr 01, 1980 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment
Toni Van Haddocks went missing February 16, 1980. Her body was found April 15, 1980, near Daytona Beach with multiple stab wounds to the head. Stano confessed to the murder on May 9, 1980.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Stano, Eugene Paul; Stano v. Butterworth, 889 F.2d 962 (11th Cir. 1989)
Offense date Feb 17, 1980, Daytona Beach, Florida
First-degree murder of Mary Carol Maher
Daytona Beach Police Department, Volusia County · Volusia County Circuit Court · Florida first-degree murder statute · Arrested Apr 01, 1980 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment
Stano confessed to stabbing Maher repeatedly in the chest and back on April 1, 1980, after she rejected his sexual advances. He claimed she bled on his car. Her body was found posed, lying on her back and covered with branches.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Stano, Eugene Paul; Stano v. Butterworth, 889 F.2d 962 (11th Cir. 1989); Gerald Eugene Stano – Odyssey of Murder
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
9
Victims convicted
41
Victims confessed
88
Victims suspected
Active years
1969–1980
Victim profile
Young women, Teenagers, Children, Sex workers, Hitchhikers
Stated motive
Sexual, Power or control
Range from home
interstate
Confessed
Yes
Cooperated with investigators
Yes
Education
high school
Marital history
Married, Divorced
Children
1
Died
1998-03-23 · executed
Agencies
Law enforcement, prosecutors and corrections agencies the records show dealing with this person. An investigator working a case with a possible connection can start here.
Brevard County State Attorney's Office · FL
Agency case Cathy Lee Scharf
Prosecuted Scharf murder conviction in Brevard County (1983)
Florida Department of Corrections · FL
Agency case Multiple
Housed Stano at Florida State Prison until execution on March 23, 1998
Daytona Beach jail · FL
Agency case Initial detention
Initial holding facility after April 1, 1980 arrest
Volusia County State Attorney's Office · FL
Agency case Multiple convictions
Prosecuted Bickrest, Muldoon, Maher, Van Haddocks, Heard, and Bickrest murders; indicted by Volusia County Grand Jury
Brevard County Sheriff's Office · FL
Agency case Cathy Lee Scharf (1973)
Detective John Manis reactivated Scharf investigation and obtained taped confession; had jurisdiction where body found
Daytona Beach Police Department · FL
Agency case Multiple
Stano arrested April 1, 1980; officers Paul Crow and John Manis conducted Scharf case investigations
Seminole County jail · FL
Agency case Detention facility
Housed Stano during proceedings
Volusia County jail · FL
Agency case Detention facility
Located at DeLand; housing facility during proceedings
Volusia County Sheriff's Office · FL
Agency case Multiple
David Hudson received Scharf confession; handled multiple victim investigations in jurisdiction
Florida Attorney General's Office · FL
Agency case Appeal representation
Robert A. Butterworth and assistants represented state in appeals
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
FL
Ormond Beach, Florida
approx. 1973 – 1980 · Moved to Florida with parents
Ormond Beach, Florida
approx. 1973 – 1980 · Hospital worker and other jobs; repeatedly fired for theft and tardiness
Daytona Beach, Florida
Apr 1980 – Sep 1981 · Daytona Beach jail; also housed at Volusia County jail at Deland and Seminole County jail
Starke, Florida
Sep 1981 – Mar 23, 1998 · Florida State Prison
NY
Schenectady, New York
approx. 1951 – 1952 · Birth location
PA
East Norriton Township, Pennsylvania
approx. 1967 – 1973 · Military school enrollment and various jobs
East Norriton Township, Pennsylvania
approx. 1967 – 1973 · Family moved to Norriton in 1967
Known Vehicles
Vehicles and approximate dates of ownership or use, as reported in the cited records. A photo next to a vehicle is the vehicle itself as published.
1980 Red AMC Gremlin – Red Gremlin used in commission of crimes
approx. 1980 – 1980
Vehicle used in 1980 assault on Donna Hensley and linked to multiple murders. License plate was run after officer spotted vehicle near crime scene.
Timeline
Sep 12, 1951
Eugene Paul Stano born as Paul Zeininger in Schenectady, New York.
Sep 13, 1951
Adopted by Eugene and Norma Stano after 13 months of severe neglect assessed as unfit for adoption.
1965
Arrested for falsely sounding a fire alarm and throwing rocks at cars from a highway bridge.
1967
Family moved to Norriton, Pennsylvania; Stano began skipping school and stealing money.
Mar 21, 1973
Janine Ligotino, 19, and Ann Arceneaux, 17, stabbed to death in Gainesville, Florida.
Sep 06, 1973
Barbara Anne Bauer, 17, strangled to death in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Dec 1973
Cathy Lee Scharf, 17, murdered near Port Orange, Florida; she disappeared November 14, 1973, and her remains were found January 19, 1974.
Jan 19, 1974
Cathy Lee Scharf's decomposed remains discovered in a ditch near Titusville, Florida.
Jan 03, 1975
Nancy Jean Heard, 24, strangled to death in Port Orange, Florida.
May 15, 1975
Diana Lynn Valleck, 18, shot to death in Tampa, Florida.
Jun 10, 1975
Susan Basile, 12, strangled to death in Port Orange, Florida.
Jun 21, 1975
Stano married a 22-year-old hairstylist he was dating.
Jul 22, 1975
Linda Hamilton, 16, found drowned to death.
Dec 17, 1975
Emily Branch, 21, found dead.
Dec 20, 1975
Susan Bickrest, 24, strangled to death in Volusia County, Florida.
Feb 10, 1976
Bonnie Jean Hughes, 34, bludgeoned to death in Polk County, Florida.
May 30, 1976
Cheryl Ramona Neal, 18, found dead.
Jun 1976
Stano's wife filed for divorce.
Sep 28, 1977
Joan Gail Foster, 18, shot to death in Pasco County, Florida.
Nov 11, 1977
Mary Kathleen Muldoon, 23, found shot to death in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Aug 05, 1978
Sandra Dubose, 34, shot to death in Brevard County, Florida.
Mar 27, 1979
Phoebe Winston, 25, shot to death in Polk County, Florida.
Apr 15, 1979
Christine Goodson, 17, killed in Pinellas County, Florida.
Dec 11, 1979
Dorothy Williams, 17, found stabbed to death in Tampa, Florida.
Feb 16, 1980
Toni Van Haddocks, 26, goes missing in Daytona Beach area.
Feb 17, 1980
Mary Carol Maher, 20, found stabbed at Daytona Airport.
Mar 25, 1980
Donna Hensley identified Stano as having stabbed her in a Daytona Beach hotel room when she refused to pay upfront for sex; she received 27 stitches.
Apr 01, 1980
Stano arrested for questioning relating to attack on prostitute Donna Hensley. During interrogation he confessed to assaulting Hensley and murdering Mary Carol Maher. Signed confession to Maher's murder, was charged with first-degree murder, and put in jail.
Apr 15, 1980
Toni Van Haddocks's body found near Daytona Beach, stabbed multiple times in the head.
May 09, 1980
Stano confessed to the murder of Toni Van Haddocks.
Sep 02, 1981
Stano pleads guilty to the murders of Mary Carol Maher, Toni Van Haddocks, and Nancy Heard; sentenced to life in prison.
Aug 15, 1982
While in Florida State Prison, Stano confesses to the murder of Susan Bickrest.
Jan 18, 1983
Volusia County grand jury indicts Stano for murders of Bickrest and Muldoon.
Jun 08, 1983
Stano pleads guilty to murders of Bickrest and Muldoon; waives right to trial; Judge Foxman sentences him to death.
Sep 1983
Stano convicted of Cathy Lee Scharf's murder after first trial ends in mistrial. Given death penalty by jury following second trial in December 1983.
Dec 02, 1983
Jury in second trial for Cathy Lee Scharf murder returns guilty verdict and recommends death sentence.
Jul 11, 1985
Florida Supreme Court affirms Stano's conviction and death sentence for Cathy Lee Scharf murder.
May 22, 1986
Governor of Florida signs Stano's first death warrant; execution scheduled for July 2, 1986.
Jul 01, 1986
Stano files first motion for postconviction relief the day before scheduled execution.
Jul 02, 1986
Stano granted temporary stay of execution.
Jun 04, 1987
Governor of Florida signs Stano's second death warrant; execution date set for August 26, 1987.
Aug 22, 1987
Stano files for Writ of Habeas Corpus, claiming ineffective counsel; granted stay of execution but loses appeal.
1997
Governor of Florida signs Stano's third death warrant; execution date set for April 29, 1997, then pushed back to May 30, 1997, then stayed due to electric chair malfunction.
Mar 20, 1998
Florida Supreme Court issues final ruling on Stano's appeals the day before execution.
Mar 23, 1998
Eugene Paul Stano executed by electrocution at Florida State Prison, Starke, Florida, after confessing to 41 murders.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
News report · Crime Library ·
Gerald Eugene Stano – Odyssey of Murder“On June 8, 1983, Stano entered guilty pleas in the deaths of Susan Bickrest and Mary Muldoon. He waived his right to a hearing and Judge Foxman sentenced him to death.”
Offender registry · Find a Grave ·
Gerald Eugene Stano (1951-1998) - Find a Grave“Gerald Eugene Stano, 46, executed March 23, 1998, for the slaying of Cathy Scharf, 17, of Port Orange, who disappeared Nov. 14, 1973.”
Other · Wikipedia ·
Gerald Stano“Gerald Eugene Stano (born Paul Zeininger; September 12, 1951 – March 23, 1998) was an American convicted serial killer.”
Other · Radford University Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Stano, Eugene Paul“Gerald Eugene Stano, born September 12, 1951, in Schenectady, New York, adopted as an infant by Eugene and Norma Stano.”
Court record · Florida Supreme Court ·
Stano v. State (Fla. 1998)“Gerald Stano was convicted in 1983 for the torturous murder of seventeen-year-old Cathy Lee Scharf.”
Court record · U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit ·
Stano v. Butterworth, 889 F.2d 962 (11th Cir. 1989)“On June 13, 1983, the judge imposed the death penalty in both cases for the murders of Bickrest and Muldoon.”
Court record · Florida Supreme Court ·
Stano v. State, 520 So.2d 278 (Fla.1988)“After being arrested for aggravated battery in 1980, Stano confessed to having murdered numerous women. He pled guilty to six counts of first-degree murder and received six consecutive life sentences.”
News report · UPI Archives ·
Serial sex killer Gerald Eugene Stano, claiming he is...“He has been convicted of 10 murders in Florida and was sentenced to die for three.”
Court record · Florida Supreme Court ·
Stano v. State, 473 So.2d 1282 (Fla.1985)“Gerald Stano appeals his conviction of first-degree murder and sentence of death. On retrial the jury convicted Stano as charged and recommended the death penalty.”
News report · The Washington Post ·
Police Say Man Admitted Murdering 33“A Florida drifter...has admitted killing 33 women in a decade of knifings, strangulations and shootings, according to authorities.”
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