• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Death row inmate gave chilling final words to victims' families in 3-minute statement before execution by lethal injection

Home> News> Crime

Published 12:49 14 Jun 2025 GMT+1

Death row inmate gave chilling final words to victims' families in 3-minute statement before execution by lethal injection

Stephen Stanko, who committed a trio of devastating crimes two decades ago, was executed yesterday (June 13)

Ella Scott

Ella Scott

Warning: This article contains discussion of rape, sexual assault, and domestic violence that some may find disturbing.

Before a South Carolina man was sentenced to death, he looked into the eyes of his victims’ families, delivering a 3.5-minute statement where he remarked ‘forgiveness will heal’.

57-year-old Stephen Stanko became the sixth criminal to be executed via lethal injection over a six-month period in South Carolina on Friday (June 13).

The murderer, who had previously been jailed for assault and kidnapping in 1996, was convicted of strangling his live-in girlfriend, Laura Ling, 43, to death in 2005.

Advert

After Ling died, Stanko proceeded to rape her teenage daughter and slashed her neck.

Hours after the attack, the man proceeded to shoot library patron and retired Air Force master sergeant Henry Turner, 74. He then cleaned out his bank account and stole his truck.

Stephen Stanko was arrested and later convicted for two murders in 2005 (FOX NEWS)
Stephen Stanko was arrested and later convicted for two murders in 2005 (FOX NEWS)

A nationwide manhunt soon ensued, and eventually the perpetrator was arrested without incident in Augusta, Georgia, on April 12, 2005.

Advert

A Georgetown County jury later convicted Stanko and sentenced him to death for the murder of Ling.

He was the first person to be sentenced to death in Georgetown County for almost 11 years, according to a now-defunct local newspaper.

He was also sentenced to 110 years in prison for the related assault of Ling’s 15-year-old child and was later convicted of Turner’s murder. This landed him his second death sentence.

Despite various appeals to the South Carolina Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court, Stanko was executed via lethal injection at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia yesterday.

Advert

It’s understood Stanko was initially toying with the idea of being killed by a firing squad. However, he opted instead for the injection.

This was after discovering autopsy results from the last inmate killed by that method showed the bullets from the three volunteers nearly missed his heart, as per the Mirror.

Prior to his death, the double-killer was granted a death row meal. This consisted of fried fish, fried shrimp, crab cakes, a baked potato, carrots, fried okra, cherry pie, banana pudding, and sweet tea, as per reports.

The execution began on Friday after a 3.5-minute final statement where Stanko reportedly apologized to his victims and asked ‘not to be judged by the worst day of his life’, ABC News wrote.

Advert

The criminal pleaded for forgiveness amid his execution (South Carolina Department of Corrections)
The criminal pleaded for forgiveness amid his execution (South Carolina Department of Corrections)

The publication reports that the criminal appeared to turn towards the families of the victims so they could hear his words. Then, he let out ‘several quick breaths as his lips quivered’.

13 minutes after prison officials dosed him with the first round of pentobarbital, Stanko was administered a second dose.

He was pronounced dead by medical experts at 6:34pm, 28 minutes after the execution initially began.

Advert

Amid his lengthy statement, Stanko said: “I have lived for approximately 20,973 days, but I am judged solely for one.

“Once I am gone, I hope that Christina, Laura's family and Henry's family can all forgive me. The execution may help them. Forgiveness will heal them,” he added.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. You can talk in confidence 24 hours a day to the national domestic violence helpline on 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) 24/7. You can find a list of local resources here.

You can also contact The National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800.656.HOPE (4673), available 24/7. Or you chat online via online.rainn.org

Featured Image Credit: South Carolina Department of Corrections

Topics: Crime, Death Row, True crime, US News, South Carolina

Ella Scott
Ella Scott

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

2 mins ago
an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • 2 mins ago

    Concerns over nuclear power plant as huge tsunami warnings issued across the world following massive earthquake

    4,000 employees at the power plant have been forced to evacuate

    News
  • an hour ago

    Terrifying warning people on cruise ships heard as tsunami threatens to hit world after sixth-strongest earthquake

    One cruise passenger has described the alert she got on her phone after the earthquake struck in Russia

    News
  • an hour ago

    Cruise ship passenger points out eerie detail on board that's unlocking ‘pure terror’ among people

    The realization has people striking cruise breaks off their bucket lists

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Trump goes on furious rant about why Stephen Colbert was ‘fired’ after host cursed him out during show

    The President hasn't held back when it comes to sharing his feelings about Stephen Colbert

    News
  • Death row inmate had surprising final words before execution by lethal injection
  • Death row inmate used final words for chilling statement to victim's family before execution by lethal injection
  • Death row inmate who murdered pastor gives chilling final three words before being executed by lethal injection
  • Death row inmate's last meal revealed as he gave chilling 3-minute statement before execution