I Would Find a Girl Walking by Diana Montané, Kathy Kelly

going eastbound towards U.S. 1. Reaching the intersection of Mason and U.S. 1, we made a left hand turn and following behind each other, proceeded north on U.S. 1. Getting to the intersection of somewhere around 95, Sammy took over, but I motioned that we needed gas, so I stopped for some gas. We also picked up some beer on the way along with something to kill the hunger pains that was being driven at that time also. So he said, ‘Follow me, follow me for a while.’ So . . .”
    Barbara Bauer must have felt comforted by the view, in the rearview mirror of her car, of the vehicle right behind them driven by a clean-cut teenager.
    Stano related the entire ordeal to which he had subjected Barbara with his usual detachment, a narration that would later be gone over in depth by Assistant State Attorney for Bradford County Tom Elwell, at the Bradford County Court House in Starke, Florida, later that day.
    It was 4 in the afternoon when Assistant State Attorney Elwell began to question the defendant. Present were also Deputy Don Denton and Mack S. Futch, another assistant state attorney.
    Once again, Elwell advised Stano of all of his rights, explaining every single one. He also asked Stano if he was now under the influence of alcohol or any drugs. Stano said no. He verified Stano’s age, thirty, and confirmed his education, which Stano said was comprised of high school, some computer training, and several other courses he never completed.
    Elwell then wanted to be sure that Stano could read, write, and speak the English language clearly and that he had not been intimidated or harassed in any way, or promised anything in exchange for his testimony. Stano said no.
    And then the attorney made a dramatic statement.
    “I believe that you are aware that when Deputy Denton spoke to you the only understanding that you two had was that you could get additional time consecutive to what you are now already serving.”
    A tired nod from Stano. “Yes.”
    “But you are now serving three twenty-five year mandatory consecutive sentences.” The investigator was referring to the three life sentences Stano received when he pleaded guilty to three of the murders. Serving at least twenty-five years in prison was mandatory with that sentence.
    Stano, with his penchant for remembering dates and times and numbers, knew this only too well.
    “Which would make your tentative release date somewhere around the age of 105?”
    “Yes.”
    “So the extent of your understanding with Deputy Denton you had was that they would not seek the death penalty but that you could do consecutive time in addition to the time you are serving?” Consecutive sentences, rather than concurrent ones, meant Stano would die in jail, as the stacked jail time would outlive him.
    “Yes.”
    Before proceeding any further, Elwell explained the provision in the agreement of Stano with the state.
    “The part that you are required of the agreement and are still required of the agreement is that you truthfully and accurately tell all that you know regarding the death of Barbara Anne Bauer, seventeen years old, white female. Gerald, I am going to ask you to raise your right hand, please.”
    Stano complied.
    “Do you swear and affirm that the testimony and statement that you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?”
    “Yes.”
    Stano put his hand down.
    Stano confirmed details such as the spelling of his name, present and former addresses, and a time in 1973 when he came to Florida on vacation. That was before the family moved there permanently, in November 1973. The attorney then had Stano spell his full name—Gerald Eugene Stano—and give both his present and former addresses. For six years, Stano had moved back and forth from Pennsylvania, staying with his grandparents in Ormond Beach, Florida, for a time while he attended Seabreeze Junior High School, then returned to his home state. Finally, in December of 1973, he came