Stanko was found guilty of Laura Ling's murder in 2006.
By Joel Allen
Friday, November 06, 2009 at 5:51 p.m.
Read more: Local, Crime, STEPHEN STANKO, TRIAL, MURRELLS INLET, LAURA LING, HENRY LEE TURNER, MANHUNT, DEATH ROW, MURDER
Jury qualification began Friday for the murder trial of Stephen Stanko, who's charged with killing a Conway man. Stanko is already on death row for the death of a Murrells Inlet woman.
In April, 2005, Stephen Stanko murdered his girlfriend, Laura Ling, in Murrells Inlet, and raped her teenage daughter. The search for Stanko had folks in Murrells Inlet locking their doors and living in fear.
The 37-year-old Stanko was considered armed and dangerous. He had a lengthy criminal record and had been released from prison nine months earlier. The day after Ling's death, April 9th, Horry County police received a tip that the red Mustang Stanko was believed to be driving was parked at a home in Conway.
Inside the home, police discovered 74-year-old Henry Lee Turner, dead of gun shot wounds. He was an acquaintance of Stanko. Now, another neighborhood cowered in fear.
April 10th and 11th, the manhunt for Stanko went nationwide. Highway message boards reminded drivers to be on the lookout for the stolen black truck Stanko was now believed to be driving.
April 12th, the search for Stanko came to an end. He was captured in a shopping center parking lot in Augusta, Georgia.
In August, 2006, Stanko went on trial for Ling's murder. He was found guilty and sent to death row. Next week, Stanko goes on trial for Turner's death.
What began as a pool of 270 potential jurors was whittled down a bit Friday, and selection of the jury will begin Monday.
Testimony in Stanko's second murder trial is expected to begin next Wednesday.
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