Second death penalty trial begins for Stephen Stanko

A man already waiting on the death penalty is on trial again in Conway. Jury selection began Monday for Stephen Stanko’s second murder trial.

Stanko is accused of killing Henry Lee Turner, 74, in April 2005. Investigators think Stanko shot Turner to death at his Conway home, and then stole his pickup truck.

Police say Turner’s murder was only one of many crimes Stanko committed in one week. He already received the death penalty for the killing of Laura Ling, 43, of Murrells Inlet. Police say she was a librarian who lived with Stanko.

Investigators found Ling’s body after a teenager, later identified as Ling’s daughter, called police from the home and said she had been raped. They say Turner’s murder came a few days after this murder and rape. A Georgetown jury found Stanko guilty of the murder and rape in August of 2006.

Shortly after the conviction, he was sentenced to death. Stanko and his legal team appealed that sentencing within a year. His lawyers argued in SC Supreme Court that the jury was not questioned properly and Stanko did not have a fair chance in court.

In 2008, the Supreme Court ruled against his appeal and would not allow a new trial for Stanko. The appeal process delayed the trial of Turner’s murder.

The Stanko case received national attention when a nation-wide search went on for him after the Turner and Ling murders. U.S. Marshals were able to track him down and arrest him in a shopping center in Augusta. Ga.

The CBS show ’48 Hours’ also featured the Stanko case in January 2007.

Opening arguments are expected to begin later this week. News13 will be at the courthouse during the Stanko trial. Count on continued updates on scnow.com.