Latest news with #GeorgetownCounty
Washington Post
13-06-2025
- Washington Post
South Carolina executes a man serving death sentences in 2 separate murders
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina man sent to death row twice for separate murders was put to death Friday by lethal injection in the state's sixth execution in nine months. Stephen Stanko, 57, was pronounced dead at 6:34 p.m. He was executed for shooting a friend and then cleaning out his bank account in Horry County in 2005. The execution began After a 3 1/2 minute final statement where Stanko apologized to his victims and asked not to be judged by the worst day of his life. Prison officials asked for the first dose of the powerful sedative pentobarbital. Stanko appeared to be saying words, turned toward the families of the victims and then let out several quick breaths as his lips quivered. Stanko appeared to stop breathing after a minute. A prison employee asked for a second dose of pentobarbital about 13 minutes later. He was announced dead about 28 minutes after the execution started. Stanko also was serving a death sentence for killing his live-in girlfriend in her Georgetown County home hours earlier, strangling her as he raped her teenage daughter. Stanko slit the teen's throat, but she survived. Stanko was leaning toward dying by South Carolina's new firing squad, like the past two inmates before him. But after autopsy results from the last inmate killed by that method showed the bullets from the three volunteers nearly missed his heart , Stanko went with lethal injection. Stanko was the last of four executions scheduled around the country this week. Florida and Alabama each put an inmate to death on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Oklahoma executed a man transferred from federal to state custody to allow his death. The federal courts rejected Stanko's last-ditch effort to spare his life as his lawyers argued the state isn't carrying out lethal injection properly after autopsy results found fluid in the lungs of other inmates killed that way. Also South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster refused a phone call to prison officials minutes before the execution began. A governor has not spared a death row inmate's life in the previous 48 executions since South Carolina reinstated the death penalty about 50 years ago.
The Independent
13-06-2025
- The Independent
South Carolina prepares for its 6th execution in 9 months with a man serving 2 death sentences
A South Carolina man sent to death row twice for separate murders is scheduled to die Friday by lethal injection in the state's sixth execution in nine months. Stephen Stanko, 57, is being killed for shooting a friend and then cleaning out his bank account in Horry County in 2005. Hours earlier Stanko killed his live-in girlfriend, strangling her as he raped her teenage daughter in the woman's home in neighboring Georgetown County. He slit the teen's throat but she survived. Stanko also ended up on death row for that crime. Stanko was leaning toward dying by South Carolina's new firing squad, like two inmates before him. But after autopsy results from the last inmate killed by that method showed the bullets from the three volunteers nearly missed his heart, Stanko went with lethal injection. Stanko is the last of four executions scheduled around the country this week. Florida and Alabama each put an inmate to death on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Oklahoma executed a man transferred from federal to state custody to allow his death. There are a couple of long-shot efforts to spare his life. Stanko can appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court after a federal judge refused this week to stop his execution. Stanko's lawyers said the state isn't carrying out lethal injection properly after autopsy results found fluid in the lungs of other inmates killed that way. Or South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster could offer clemency. That decision won't be made until a phone call prison officials make to the governor minutes before every execution. Stanko's execution is set to start at 6 p.m. at a Columbia prison. A governor has not spared a death row inmate's life in the previous 48 executions since South Carolina reinstated the death penalty about 50 years ago. What will happen to Stanko in the death chamber Stanko will be strapped to a gurney in the state's death chamber. An IV line, placed before witnesses enter the room, will stretch into a wall behind him. He will be given at least one massive dose of the powerful sedative pentobarbital. In previous South Carolina executions, prison officials have given inmates a second dose of the drug after 10 minutes when their hearts have shown sporadic electrical impulses because the organ is the last to use the body's stored oxygen. Lawyers for Stanko said the procedure shows inmates suffer. But a federal judge pointed out Wednesday that witnesses to all three South Carolina lethal injection deaths in the past nine months said the inmates took several breaths, some that sounded like snores, then stopped breathing and lost consciousness within one to two minutes. Stanko's two murders across two counties Stanko is being executed for killing his 74-year-old friend Henry Turner. Stanko went to Turner's home in April 2005 after lying about his father dying and then shot Turner twice while using a pillow as a silencer, authorities said. Stanko stole Turner's truck, cleaned out his bank account and then spent the next few days in Augusta, Georgia, where he told people in town for the Masters Tournament that he owned several Hooters restaurants. He stayed with a woman who took him to church. She then called police once she saw his photo and that he was wanted, police said. Hours before killing Turner, Stanko beat and strangled his girlfriend in her home and raped her daughter before slashing the teen's throat. The daughter survived and testified against him at one of his trials. 'Stephen Stanko is just plain evil. He has, in his core, down deep inside, something that makes him evil. He's a bad man, he knows it, and he likes it. He doesn't turn away from it. He will hide it. He's very, very, very good at hiding it, but you cannot equate evil with insanity,' then-prosecutor Greg Hembree said in his closing statement at one of Stanko's trials. Hembree later became a state senator and was the chief sponsor of the 2021 law allowing South Carolina to use a firing squad.
Associated Press
13-06-2025
- Associated Press
South Carolina prepares for its 6th execution in 9 months with a man serving 2 death sentences
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina man sent to death row twice for separate murders is scheduled to die Friday by lethal injection in the state's sixth execution in nine months. Stephen Stanko, 57, is being killed for shooting a friend and then cleaning out his bank account in Horry County in 2005. Hours earlier Stanko killed his live-in girlfriend, strangling her as he raped her teenage daughter in the woman's home in neighboring Georgetown County. He slit the teen's throat but she survived. Stanko also ended up on death row for that crime. Stanko was leaning toward dying by South Carolina's new firing squad, like two inmates before him. But after autopsy results from the last inmate killed by that method showed the bullets from the three volunteers nearly missed his heart, Stanko went with lethal injection. Stanko is the last of four executions scheduled around the country this week. Florida and Alabama each put an inmate to death on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Oklahoma executed a man transferred from federal to state custody to allow his death. Last efforts to save Stanko's life There are a couple of long-shot efforts to spare his life. Stanko can appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court after a federal judge refused this week to stop his execution. Stanko's lawyers said the state isn't carrying out lethal injection properly after autopsy results found fluid in the lungs of other inmates killed that way. Or South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster could offer clemency. That decision won't be made until a phone call prison officials make to the governor minutes before every execution. Stanko's execution is set to start at 6 p.m. at a Columbia prison. A governor has not spared a death row inmate's life in the previous 48 executions since South Carolina reinstated the death penalty about 50 years ago. What will happen to Stanko in the death chamber Stanko will be strapped to a gurney in the state's death chamber. An IV line, placed before witnesses enter the room, will stretch into a wall behind him. He will be given at least one massive dose of the powerful sedative pentobarbital. In previous South Carolina executions, prison officials have given inmates a second dose of the drug after 10 minutes when their hearts have shown sporadic electrical impulses because the organ is the last to use the body's stored oxygen. Lawyers for Stanko said the procedure shows inmates suffer. But a federal judge pointed out Wednesday that witnesses to all three South Carolina lethal injection deaths in the past nine months said the inmates took several breaths, some that sounded like snores, then stopped breathing and lost consciousness within one to two minutes. Stanko's two murders across two countiesStanko is being executed for killing his 74-year-old friend Henry Turner. Stanko went to Turner's home in April 2005 after lying about his father dying and then shot Turner twice while using a pillow as a silencer, authorities said. Stanko stole Turner's truck, cleaned out his bank account and then spent the next few days in Augusta, Georgia, where he told people in town for the Masters Tournament that he owned several Hooters restaurants. He stayed with a woman who took him to church. She then called police once she saw his photo and that he was wanted, police said. Hours before killing Turner, Stanko beat and strangled his girlfriend in her home and raped her daughter before slashing the teen's throat. The daughter survived and testified against him at one of his trials. 'Stephen Stanko is just plain evil. He has, in his core, down deep inside, something that makes him evil. He's a bad man, he knows it, and he likes it. He doesn't turn away from it. He will hide it. He's very, very, very good at hiding it, but you cannot equate evil with insanity,' then-prosecutor Greg Hembree said in his closing statement at one of Stanko's trials. Hembree later became a state senator and was the chief sponsor of the 2021 law allowing South Carolina to use a firing squad.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Coal silo catches fire at International Paper site, officials confirm
GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Fire crews responded to a fire at the International Paper site in Georgetown County Saturday, officials confirmed. At 2:55 p.m., crews responded to the scene and saw heavy black smoke coming from a large coal silo. Responders deployed handlines and entered the silo finding a heavy fire load on the coal conveyor system, according to Brandon Ellis, emergency service director for Georgetown County. The fire was spreading vertically. Firefighters responded with an aggressive attack, and the flames were brought under control. No injuries were reported from the situation, and damage was contained to the original silo, Ellis said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Search continues for missing boater on Waccamaw River
GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – The search continued Monday for a missing boater along the Waccamaw River. The Georgetown County Sheriff's Office and SC Department of Natural Resources have been looking for Kerry Van Arsdel, who left The Reserve Marina on May 19 and has not been seen since. Officials with the sheriff's office said marina employees located Arsdel's unmanned boat Thursday near Butler Island, miles away from the docks. His belongings were still inside. The Georgetown County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol ended its recovery efforts Monday ahead of expected bad weather. 'Deputies are concentrating on the area between The Reserve Marina and the bridge near Georgetown, judging tides, water temperature, and time as factors in the search. They will resume Tuesday morning,' officials explained. As the investigation progresses, deputies ask that anyone with information about Arsdel give them a call at 843-546-5102. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
