Execution Alert: Michael Zack III to be executed Oct. 3, 2023 for the murder of Ravonne Smith during a crime spree in 1996

Victims
Ravonne Kennedy Smith, 31
Laura Barbara Rosillo, 40

*Update* Michael Zack III was executed on 10/3/2023 as scheduled.

Michael Duane Zack III v State of Florida 2000 (conviction and sentence affirmed)
Execution set for man who murdered Escambia County woman in crime spree
Florida man who murdered women he met in bars set to die by lethal injection
Florida execution: Man who murdered women he met in bars set to die by lethal injection
Michael Zack set to be executed Tuesday in 1996 killing of woman he met at Florida bar
Florida man who murdered women he met in bars set to die by lethal injection
Man who killed 2 women he met a day apart in north Florida bars was put to death
Man who killed 2 women he met a day apart in north Florida bars in 1996 is put to death

INMATE INFORMATION

Last words: “I love you all.”

Murder In The Family: David Barnett stabbed his grandparents, Clifford and Leona Barnett, to death; Sentenced to LWOP

Victims
Clifford Barnett, 82
Leona Barnett, 75

Find-A-Grave: Clifford Raymond Barnett
Find-A-Grave: Leona Bell Adams Barnett
Victims: Clifford and Leona Barnett – Location: Glendale, MO
David M. Barnett v State of Missouri 2003 (conviction and sentence affirmed)
Murderpedia: David Michael Barnett
Missouri Supreme Court Considers Case That Could Impact Sentences for Teen Murderers
Man resentenced to life in prison for killing grandparents
Where is Killer David Barnett Now?

Movies/Documentaries
I Am a Killer: Overkill

INMATE INFORMATION

Cold Case: Thomas Terry Johnson Jr. charged with the 1996 murder of Joseph Todd Jowers outside of the Classic’s Lounge


Joseph Todd Jowers

Find-A-Grave: Joseph Todd Jowers
25 years later, Tuscaloosa investigators seek cold case information
Tuscaloosa Cold Case Remains Unsolved 25 Years Later
Man Indicted For Murder In 1996 Tuscaloosa Cold Case
Suspect charged in 26-year-old cold case out of Tuscaloosa
Suspect indicted on murder charges in 1996 cold case ambush shooting death at Tuscaloosa lounge
Arrest made in 26-year-old cold case
Investigators Say They Solved Cold Case Murder of Popular Alabama Line Dance Instructor and Karaoke Singer

INMATE INFORMATION

Offender Name:JOHNSON, THOMAS TERRY
Custody Status:Out of Custody
Age:50
Reason:General release
Race:White
Contact Facility:
Gender:Male
Date of Birth:12/18/1972
Date:12/23/2022
Additional Information:

Woods Cross Motel 6 Murder: Matthew John Whicker was murdered during a robbery at the motel while he was working; Da


Matthew John Whicker

Matthew John Whicker obituary
Find-A-Grave: Matthew John Whicker
Man guilty of ’96 killing
Gunman in Motel 6 slaying is sentenced
Plea deal reached in Motel 6 shooting
Case of Woods Cross motel clerk killing is over
Man convicted of murder at 17 leads Provo police on chase
New Twist to Motel 6 Murder Case
State of Utah v Todd Jeremy Rettenberger 1999 (conviction overturned)
Conviction overturned in Motel 6 murder; man released
Man convicted in Motel 6 murder set free
Man involved in 1996 Motel 6 murder convicted of human trafficking
The Justice Files: Man convicted of sex trafficking claims he’s ‘found Jesus’

Defendants
David Valken-Leduc – convicted, sentenced to 6 years to life in prison; overturned, entered an Alford plea and released
Elliott Rashad Harper – pled no contest, sentenced to 0-5 years in prison
Todd Jeremy Rettenberger – pled guilty, sentenced to 5 months in jail (driver)

Murder For Hire: Paul Allen hired 2 men to kill his wife, Jill; All were sentenced to prison


Jill Allen

Jill Allen obituary
Find-A-Grave: Jill Martinsen
Slain wife called unrecognizable Mother of Jill Allen breaks into tears on the stand
Jill Allen’s killer offers details of 1996 slaying
State of Utah v Paul Christopher Allen 2005 (conviction and sentence affirmed)
Justices uphold conviction in ’96 murder-for-hire case
Convicted of hiring a hit man to kill wife, Paul Allen maintains innocence
The Justice Files: No new trial for convicted killer
The Justice Files: Jill Allen’s killer seeks parole
Utah hit man seeks parole, but family of murdered woman says 25 years isn’t enough
Utahn convicted in murder-for-hire plot refuses to attend own parole hearing

Defendants
Paul Christopher Allen – convicted, sentenced to life in prison
George Anthony Taylor – pled guilty, 5 years to life in prison
Joseph Sergious Wright – pled guilty, sentenced to 0-5 years in prison

INMATE INFORMATION

Offender Number: 138732
Offender Name: PAUL CHRISTOPHER ALLEN
DOB: Thu, 27 Feb 1969
Height: 5 Feet 11 Inches
Weight: 190
Sex: M
Location: UTAH STATE PRISON
Housing Facility: OQUIRRH
Parole Hearing: 8/2022
Parole Date: N/A
Aliases:
PAUL CHRISTOPHER ALLEN

INMATE INFORMATION

Offender Number: 53076
Offender Name: GEORGE ANTHONY TAYLOR
DOB: Wed, 30 Jul 1969
Height: 6 Feet 0 Inches
Weight: 210
Sex: M
Location: UTAH STATE PRISON
Housing Facility: WASATCH
Parole Hearing: 6/7/2022
Parole Date: N/A
Aliases:
GEORGE ANTHONY TAYLOR

Deadly Girlfriends: Helen Hardin Moore convicted of killing her boyfriend, Casey Roy Elliott and dismembering his body; Sentenced to life in prison


Casey Roy Elliott

Find-A-Grave: Casey Roy Elliott
Girlfriend Admits Killing, Cutting Up Cowboy
Helen Hardin Moore
Boyfriend Murdered
Girlfriend Admits She Drugged, Chopped Up 300-pound Cowboy

Podcasts
Ep. 76: The Wild Case of Helen Hardin Moore

Movies/Documentaries
Snapped: Helen Moore
Extreme Forensics: Deep in the Heart of Murder
Autopsy 4: The Dead Speak
Amanda Burton’s Killer Forensics: Unusual Evidence

INMATE INFORMATION

Cold Case: Garry Artman charged with the rape and murder of Sharon Kay Hammack and dumped on the side of the street


Sharon Kay Hammack

Find-A-Grave: Sharon Kay Hammack
Delayed Justice: Sharon Kay Hammack
KCSO Makes Arrest in Cold Case Homicide
‘We got him’: Florida trucker arrested in 1996 rape, murder of Grand Rapids woman

INMATE INFORMATION

Deadly Duo: Joe Luis Garay Jr and Kevin Jerome Carlson stabbed and killed 16-year-old Troy Gorena; Sentenced to 15 years to life in prison


Troy Alan Gorena

Joe Luis Garay has a parole hearing on October 7, 2021. That will not be even close to the 15 years that is the minimum for him to serve. If you would like to oppose his possible parole, here is a letter you can use: CA Board of Parole Garay hearing

SAMPLE LETTER:

CA Board of Parole – Victims Services
Correctional Training Facility
Soledad Prison Road
Soledad, CA 93960
victimservices@cdcr.ca.gov

RE: Joe Luis Garay
ID#: AN 7133

On March 5, 1996, Troy Gorena was walking down the street to go to a friend’s house when Kevin Carlson walked by him. Kevin took his child home and picked up Joe Luis Garay, who had a knife with him. They went back to where Troy was walking and Joe got out of the car and asked Troy where he was from. Troy responded that he was from Fullerton and turned to walk away. Joe stabbed him in the back several times. He was taken to the hospital and went into surgery but he never came out. This heinous, violent crime came about through Joe Luis Garay’s gang associations.

Garay was convicted of murder and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. He will have only served 8 years when he is considered for parole.

I STRONGLY OPPOSE parole for Joe Luis Garay. Justice demands he serve the full prison term of life given to him at the time he was sentenced for this heinous crime. If released, the chances that he will violently reoffend is high. Society does not deserve to have him back with his freedom, know he could once again tear another family or community apart.

Thank you for your time.

Find-A-Grave: Troy Alan Gorena
A Mother’s Mission
Trial to begin in 1996 gangland slaying
Gang member convicted of 1996 stabbing death
Man apologizes before sentencing for murder
People of the State of California v Joe Luis Garay Jr 2014 (conviction and sentence affirmed)
OC man wrongly convicted of 1996 murder close to freedom
Petition opposing parole 2021

Defendants
Joe Luis Garay Jr – convicted, sentenced to 15 years to life in prison; parole hearing Oct. 7, 2021
Kevin Jerome Carlson – pled guilty, sentenced to 4 years in prison


Kevin Jerome Carlson

INMATE INFORMATION

Inmate Name GARAY, JOE LUIS
CDCR Number AN7133
Age 45
Admission Date 03/13/2013
Current Location Correctional Training Facility
Parole Eligible Date (Month/Year) 10/2019
Parole Eligible Date Information
The Parole Eligible Date displayed above is subject to change.

The parole eligible date shown above is the first date the inmate is (or was) eligible for a parole suitability hearing by the Board of Parole Hearings to determine if the inmate should be released. Inmates may earn credits for participating in rehabilitative programming, which may move their parole eligible dates to an earlier date. Inmates could also be found guilty of an institutional rules violation, which could result in a loss of credits that may move their parole eligible dates further into the future. Parole eligible dates may also change based on a variety of other reasons, including court orders, changes in law, and routine audits. Parole eligible dates displayed on this website are updated regularly.

Monsters Among Us: Bradley Marion Steckman killed 2 women, Barbara Loesch and Dorothy Martin; Sentenced to 15 years to life in prison

Victims
Barbara Loesch, 52 [1/8/1998 Post Falls, ID]
Dorothy Martin, 89 [7/21/1996 Pullman, WA] (no picture)
Gary Loesch, 56 [11/13/1995 Post Falls, ID] (no one charged)
Kristopher Loesch [missing child, 9, now would be an adult]

This is a complicated story, that includes another couple that committed a murder-suicide, and a missing child.
The other persons of interest in Barbara Loesch’s murder was her daughter Tina Loesch, who died in a murder-suicide with her girlfriend, Skye Hanson, the other person of interest.

Find-A-Grave: Barbara Dean Stultz Loesch
Find-A-Grave: Dorothy A Martin
Find-A-Grave: Gary Charles Loesch
Work ensues in Dorothy Martin murder case
Pullman police demonstrate patience pays
Jury trial set for Dorothy Martin murder case
Murderer pleads guilty to 1998 hot tub killing
Women sought in connection with Pullman slaying found dead
Suspects in 1998 Hot Tub Murder Found Dead After TV Profile on Case
Man Hopes TV Show Can Help Solve Cold Case Murder
Suspects found dead in Arizona: TV show featured ’98 Post Falls killing
Suspects in 1998 hot tub murder found dead
Women had been in Arizona for years
Gary Loesch murder 11/1995 Post Falls, ID *Persons of interest, Tina Loesch & Skye Hanson, die in a murder-suicide*
Q6 Cold Case: “Murder, Love and Money”
Teen Missing After Decade-Long Manhunt for Mom Ends in Suicide

Movies/Documentaries
Deadly Sins: Greed
AMW: Tina Loesch
AMW: Skye Marie Hanson

Defendants
Bradley Steckman – pled guilty, sentenced to 15 years to life in prison, died in prison 4/12/2012
Tina Loesch committed murder-suicide
Skye Hanson committed murder-suicide


Tina Loesch and Skye Hanson

INMATE INFORMATION

Cold Case: James T. Manning charged with the 1996 murder of Jacques A. Smith in his Nashville home

Find-A-Grave: Jacques A. Smith
State Prison Inmate Charged with 1996 Nashville Murder
Nashville police arrest 48-year-old man for 1996 murder of teen
State prison inmate charged with murder 25 years after killing occurred
Rapist charged in 25-year-old Nashville Chestnut Hill area cold case slaying
Metro Police charge man currently behind bars for rape in 1996 murder investigation
Convicted Rapist Charged in Cold Case Murder of Victim Found Riddled With Bullets and Covered in Duct Tape in 1996

INMATE INFORMATION