Authors: Diana Montane,Kathy Kelly

I Would Find a Girl Walking (23 page)

BOOK: I Would Find a Girl Walking

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Quickly, his letters took on a personal tone, asking what kind of music I liked and what I planned to do over upcoming holidays. The assortment of letters and several get-well cards have been stored in a shoe box in my closet, waiting for the time I could write about the murder cases and what Stano had to say—in his own words.

In some cases, I have changed the names of women Stano had become involved with. Their youthful infatuations with a man whose dark side they knew nothing about should not scar them again now.

August 15, 1985

Dear Kathy,

Hi! I want to thank you for coming up, and wanting to take time to write about me. I am sorry about you having to take time off from work to come up. Wish there was some way for me to pay you back.

If you want to get on my visiting list, please contact Mr. Dayan, my Classification Officer. Explain to him what we are doing, and that you can only get weekends off to do it. If need be, ask Don for a little help.

Also, please don’t forget about your family, and devote all time to me. Your family comes first Kathy.

I really don’t know where to start except, one incident in Penn. where Angela’s
³⁷step dad (Richard) threatened me with a .22 caliber gun. It was after I had to pay for an abortion for Angela. That is when I started drinking and running around. It was the beginning of a different Jerry that had to rely on booze and beer.

I would drink very rarely until I moved to Florida. The reason for that is because of Yvonne,
³⁸whom I dated for two and a half years, before moving to Fla. She was an epileptic, and I cherished the ground she walked on. But, the threat with the gun was always in the back of my mind. That is why I always never took advantage of her anyway.

When I moved to Florida in 1974, I saw girls getting in and out of cars. After awhile, they were getting in my car too. After a while, the girls said they were going to
have their “old man” get me. That triggered my memory of the threat. So, I would go out and get some beer and booze, and get drunk, and than pick up one of the girls and kill her, knowing I wouldn’t have to worry about her getting the “old man” on me. Plus, I was also thinking what my child would have been, if I didn’t have to pay for an abortion. All of the murders were the same way, and I thought I would never get caught.

But, one night it was only an aggravated battery type deal. It totally backfired on me. I was arrested, and now I am on the Florida’s Death Row.

But, I was also married down here. It was one day at the station that my ex-brother-in-law swung at me, and I came at him with my belt. That gave me a flashback of that incident in Penn. I took out my anger on my ex-wife’s dog and her. Once, in front of her aunt and uncle; and that started the divorce proceedings. She moved to her mother’s house and left me with our trailer (24’x 60’). After the divorce, I had a small relationship with one girl and that was the last time before I was locked up.

This is basically what started the change of Jerry, to the Jerry that people call a “serial killer”.

My childhood was the usual. If I wanted to buy something, I had to have a good reason. If I wanted to talk to my father, I would cringe at the sight of him. I was afraid of him, and to this day, I still am afraid of him. Even my brother is afraid of him to this day also. My mother would take charge of us during the week, and tell him (dad) what we did wrong on the phone. When he got home, he would march us both into the bathroom and beat us with a leather razor strap. When I cracked up the family car, he came after me with a straight edge razor opened up. When I had accidents with my cars, he would always go into a rage, and say “Why couldn’t you have been killed?” He has always carried a grudge for my brother and I. Probably, because all of his brothers had kids who got straight “A’s”, the honor roll and now supporting themselves. My brother and I never had a chance to do that before we were married.

Kathy, I am trying to touch base on things that might be of help to you. I am waiting for your questions. Maybe I have answered a couple, maybe not. But, you have my full cooperation Kathy. When you said you were 38, I fell over. I thought you were 30–32. I really didn’t know what to expect at first.

I will continue this over the weekend and mail it on Sunday night. Our mail goes out on Sunday–Thursday, but we receive mail on Fridays.

Well I am back again.

I was trying to figure out what I was going to say, but caught myself in Pennsylvania with my last girlfriend. It usually happens when I talk about her.
³⁹

You probably have a list of my qualifications, but if you don’t here they are.

1.
) High school grad.

2.
) Certified Computer operator-programmer.

3.
) Cook

4.
) Outboard Marine Mechanic- apprentice

Married June 21, 1975 till July 16, 1986 have taken [lessons on] the following musical instruments.

1.
) piano

2.
) violin

3.
) clarinet

4.
) guitar

5.
) organ

Music I like is all types, esp: the oldies, dance music (disco), and todays music of the 80’s.

I use to like to dance, go for rides, and play the organ (which my mother still has), roller skate.

As I said before, everything I had was in beautiful condition, from my clothes to my car. At home, everything was put in its proper place. I learned that from my mother’s father. He was more of a father the two years I was with him, than my father. My grandfather trusted me, where my father never did. It was like, he never wanted children. He would beat us; as far back as I can remember. He would always find fault at what I would do and the same with my brother.

He tells me now when he comes to visit: “Why don’t you hang yourself, or cut your wrists and throat.” He also says “I am killing him slowly.” My mother tells me to keep fighting, and that she is behind me 100 percent all the way. Mom and I have both said that if something happens to her or me, it won’t be long before the other goes. Now my mother is the one with the bad heart, and has had cancer surgery. Dad is the one who is failing real bad. I believe my mother will outlive him. But he has to stop riding my mother’s back. He is the one who is driving her to her grave. Mom is very much afraid of him now also. All he wants to do is run, run, run all day long. When it comes time to come up and visit me, he turns very hateful. Paul can confirm this and also Don. Dad lives for his clubs and the real estate office. It was the same way before he retired. Always worrying about the company and salesmen. Forget about the two boys at home.

Kathy, I will close for now, but please write when you get a chance. Also have Paul, drop me a line.

Take care, and drive carefully when you come up next time.

Also, make sure you get permission to bring your tape recorder next time. And try to get on my visiting list as a
friend
.
Not
a
reporter
. They might even give you a special pass for one Saturday or Sunday. We can find out when you come up next time.

Respectfully,

Jerry Stano

P.S. I hope your not afraid of me, or coming up here to see me.

I felt that he was trying to turn it all around right off the bat and trying to make it seem like something it was not.

August 18, 1985

Dear Kathy, I was thinking back, and I remember you sitting in the center office of Paul’s. I believe I also have read some of your articles in the paper.

I would like to touch on the subject of police questioning suspects. Most people are playing games with them. They don’t see they have a job to do. First, the detective has extensive work to do in the research department then, they take a list of suspects and look through their m. o.’s. Then when they find a suspect with an m.o. like they are looking for, they follow that person very carefully. When they finally catch the person, he lies about everything not realizing that the background work has already been done. If the suspect would just put his cards on the table, the detective will do the same thing.

You see, Paul and I had and still have a communication not like others. Some of the counties Detectives are real back breakers. They put you in a cell, and wait for you to talk your head off. They want you to clean all of their homicides for them, besides, the one they are questioning you for. If you don’t play well with them, they get very nasty and treat you very rough.

Paul set up a good thing for me while I was in Daytona Beach City Jail. He was the go-between for me, because he knew what the other counties were going to do to me. When we were on the road, he was always present. Even the other counties didn’t like it, they had to confirm what we wanted. One County even came and got me from here by plane without Paul knowing it. I knew what to expect before that happened. You see, I wanted to help Paul as much as possible, and he knew it. But, the other counties thought we were working too closely together. If Paul didn’t care about me and my family, he could have handled everything differently. But, he saw what I was doing with, a person that was not your average run of the mill type. Even his boss was very cooperative, along with the city jail for two months.

What other Det. do you know would work with a person the way Paul worked with me, and vise versa. Nobody at all. That is why I respect Paul very much. Even his detectives’ co-workers are great people. If Paul wanted to know anything about a case, we would talk about it, and lay ground work, than we would get off the track for a few minutes. But, it was strictly business between us. If the other people would see us lying around laughing or clowning around, they thought that we were setting up something. But that is the way we were, and no one can take that away from us.

Kathy, I sure hope that this is helping you to formulate your book. I am waiting for your letter with the questions, so I know what to talk about. But, aside say this may help in some other way.

I didn’t know if you like music, but I do. While I am writing this, I am listening to my stereo with the headphones on, to the oldies. Most of what I have on records at my parents’ house. Do you like music if so, what type? I hope you don’t think I am being nosey.

I forgot to ask you Kathy, but what do I get out of this? You and Paul will harvest the most, but what about me? I was wondering about that. Besides, I would appreciate it if you
would not
tell any other reporters about this. I would only refuse them Kathy. You are the only one I will talk to. If you get a chance to talk to Don, please tell him to come up with you next time. It’s been many moons since I saw him last Kathy. He is really a true friend of mine, as is Paul. I would also like to see Paul, if you could tell him for me please.

Well I can’t think of anything else at this time. Please write soon with those questions Kathy. But, don’t forget your other duties at the News-Journal. They come first, as does your family.

Sincerely,

Jerry

August 21, 1985

Dear Kathy,

I was really happy to get your letter.

Before we go to far, I must tell you that the Parole & Probation Commission have me scheduled for an interview on Sept. 6, 1985 at 1:30 p.m. After that, my case goes to Gov. Bob Graham, and it might bring a warrant signed for me. Don is aware of this also. But, I wanted to let you know before it happens Kathy. This may put a dampener on what we have here. Also, please try and see if they will let you get on my visiting list. It could be very helpful in this project.

I don’t mean to be noisy [
sic
], but do you have any relatives working on the police force in Daytona Beach? I was only wondering. Cause, they treated me very nicely, while I was there for 2 mths.

Hope you had a nice weekend. It was the same old thing up here.

You said for me not to worry about offending you with language. I have always given respect, when it is given to me. Especially nice young lady’s like yourself. When the men get together by themselves, that is a different story.

Well, let’s get down to business, and answer your questions for you.

Well, my first girlfriend was named Angela. She was in High School at the time. Good looking, but she wasn’t smart. She was slow learning, and that had her qualified as retarded by my parents. We met at a Junior Achievement Program. It started the two of us seeing each other. I had my first car, and would drive up to see her on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. We started dating pretty regularly, and I brought her a ring too. So that was a commitment so to speak. I started taking advantage of Angela by saying how much I loved her. She let me do what I wanted to her. It started with only her blouse, then it was everything. So, one night, we were at it in my car, we had sex and that was the moment she got pregnant. When she had morning sickness, her mother approached my parents with—“Your son Jerry has gotten our daughter pregnant. We want him to pay for the abortion.” So, my parents told me what happened and what they wanted. That was the end of about 1 ½ years together.

By the end of the year, I thought no one wanted me for a boyfriend until I met Yvonne on New Years Eve 1971. I will get into this later after I answer the rest of your questions.

My relationships with women I can say was not exactly the best. It was good up north, cause you have a different type of girl. Down south, they think you got money to burn on them. Besides, I was very picky at my girlfriends. Like Yvonne up in Pennsylvania. If the young lady is a respectful type (no running around) I will take to her, and treat her with respect. But, if she is a tramp, she won’t get any respect from me. I kind of look over the girls, because of my weight problem I have. If they snicker at me, forget it. But, if they take me for what I am, that’s a different story. Besides, I am not what the girls call a hunk. I am just an overweight nobody.

As for my childhood, it was not exactly a happy one. Cause I was raised by my mother, and only saw my father on Friday nights, and Saturdays. Friday nights after supper, we would get marched into the bathroom and get beat with a leather strap and sent to our rooms. They tried to compensate by getting two of everything. From as far back as I can remember, I was never trusted to do anything. It was always a sheltered life. Couldn’t do this, couldn’t do that. That was a mistake, cause it would have helped. They wanted me to carry an “A” average in school, cause my mother was that way, and my father, held a grudge, cause he put his other brother through school, then he wouldn’t help my father.

I first got into trouble (minor scrapes) in Mt. Vernon, N.J. in 1965. It was the type of people I had to be with. All street wise. They had me pegged from the start, cause of my clothes, etc. So, I had to prove myself to them. That is when I thru rocks at cars (off the walk bridge) and turned in fire alarms. But they still thought I was not one of them.

I have mentioned before, that when Richard pointed that .22 caliber at me, that was the turning point. The first time I wanted to hurt someone, was when my father came at me with a 2’x 4’ and hit the windshield of my car. I got out and grabbed a tire iron from the garage, and wanted to beat him with it, because he hit part of me, my car. It was my 1970 Impala Custom which I cherished very much. It even had a plate on the front with Yvonne’s name. This was in 1971 or 1972.

It wasn’t easy trying to tell my parents what happened. My father was very nasty towards me, and would always tell me “why don’t you just kill yourself.” He has always been that way Since April 1, 1980 when I was arrested. Even to this day, he is very nasty, and he says practically the same thing to me. My mom is the one who cares a lot. She took it very hard, and said “she would stay by me, no matter what.” Mom takes care of getting all my packages, and comes to see me every two weeks. If my father had any say (if mom wasn’t here), he wouldn’t come up or even get me any packages.

Well, Kathy, I have answered your questions, and I await more.

Please feel free to write when you want to. Also, try and bring Don with you when you come up next time, or even Paul. Then you could see what I was talking about Kathy. It would probably be very interesting for the book, cause people could see how Paul and I handle one another.

By the way, don’t forget to try and get on my visiting list Kathy. This is only if you want to. Besides, you were the one who brought it up. And it would be a good thing too, for what we are doing. If it happens, you can bring $20 cash in $5 bills (4). That is for sodas, sandwiches, ice cream, o.j., etc. They take you to the main part first and you can get coffee to bring in, along with sodas, O.j. Then, when you get in V.P. park, they come around for hot sandwiches, and bring in more sodas, and ice cream. I thought I would pass this on to you just in case you get on my list.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely, Jerry

BOOK: I Would Find a Girl Walking

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