Executed in South Carolina: Stephen Stanko’s final words before death for killing girlfriend and friend
Stephen Stanko was executed by lethal injection after killing his partner and a friend in two separate 2005 attacks.
On Friday evening in South Carolina, lethal injection was used to execute Stephen Stanko, 57, whose sentences to death came from two murders in 2005, one in Georgetown County and the other in Horry County.
Stanko was pronounced dead at 6:34 p.m. EST, which made his case the sixth execution in the state in nine months. Stanko's execution followed a late request for clemency from Governor Henry McMaster that was not granted.
Two separate murders led to two death sentences
In Georgetown County, Stanko choked out his girlfriend during a violent attack in which he also assaulted her teenage daughter. The girl survived, even after having her throat cut.
Some hours later, Stanko shot his male friend to death in Horry County and then emptied his bank account. Those crimes resulted in two separate trials and death sentences.
He asked for forgiveness before choosing lethal injection over firing squad
Stanko gave a three-and-a-half minute last statement before the execution, and asked to "not be remembered for just one day." His statement was read by a lawyer who was also present at the execution.
Stanko initially asked to be executed by firing squad but changed his mind after learning there were complications in a previous firing squad case. He ultimately selected lethal injection as the method of execution, despite advice given by his lawyers about the method's safety.
