Louis Gaskin, ‘ninja killer,’ executed by lethal injection in Florida

STARKE, Fla. — A Florida death row inmate known as the “ninja killer” was executed by lethal injection on Wednesday.

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Louis Bernard Gaskin, 56, was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. EDT at the Florida State Prison in Raiford. Gaskin was executed for the murders of Robert Sturmfels, 56, and Georgette Sturmfels, 55, who were killed on Dec. 20, 1989, in their Flagler County winter home.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to stay Gaskin’s execution, according to the News Service of Florida. Gaskin’s attorney had appealed to the nation’s highest court after the Florida Supreme Court last week rejected arguments preventing the appeal, the news outlet reported.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Gaskin’s death warrant last month, according to The Associated Press.

Wednesday’s execution comes six weeks after Donald Dillbeck, 59, was put to death for the 1990 murder of Faye Vann, 44, in Tallahassee.

Dillbeck was the first Florida death row inmate to be executed since 2019.

Gaskin was nicknamed the “ninja killer” because he dressed in all-black clothing on the night of the murder. According to court records, Gaskin was armed with a .22-caliber rifle as he walked around the Sturmfels’ home several times. He shot the couple through a window, court records show before breaking into the residence, which was located on a cul-de-sac.

According to court records, Gaskin parked his vehicle in a wooded area and shot Robert Sturmfels twice through the window of the residence. He then shot Georgette Sturmfels, who was attempting to leave the room and then shot Robert Sturmfels again, the News Service of Florida reported.

Investigators said that Gaskin then shot Georgette Sturmels again after seeing her through a door. He then entered the home and shot both victims in the head, according to court records.

Gaskin was convicted of first-degree murder, the AP reported.

Gaskin stole a clock, a pair of lamps and a videocassette recorder from the victims’ home. Investigators said the items were intended to be Christmas gifts for his girlfriend.

Gaskins left the home and went to the home of Joseph and Mary Rector, according to the summary. Joseph Rector went to investigate and was shot, but he was able to get to a vehicle and drive to an area hospital, according to the News Service of Florida.

According to local reports at the time, Gaskin confessed to the crimes and allegedly told a psychologist before his trial that he knew what he was doing, the AP reported.

“The guilt was always there,” Gaskin reportedly said. “The devil had more of a hold than God did. I knew that I was wrong. I wasn’t insane.”

A jury in 1990 voted 8-4 for the death penalty, according to the AP.

According to the Florida Department of Corrections, William Zeigler has been on death row the longest, since July 19, 1976.