Florida Set to Execute Two Murderers

Barring a last-minute stay, Florida will execute Louis Gaskin, dubbed the “Ninja Killer” for the murders and burglary of a Palm Coast couple.  Naomi Feinstein of the Miami New Times reports that Gaskin’s execution will be carried out on April 12.  Another Florida murderer, Darryl Barwick, is scheduled to be executed on May 4.  A unanimous Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals decision upholding Gaskin’s conviction and death sentence describes the random killings five days before Christmas in 1989.  That evening Gaskin drove through a of Palm Coast neighborhood and spotted a house with a light on.  He parked and walked around the house several times.  Looking in the windows he saw Robert and Georgette Strumfels sitting in their den.   He shot Robert twice through the window.  When Georgette attempted to leave the room, he shot her, then shot her again as she crawled down a hall.  Gaskin then climbed through a window and executed both victims with shots to the head.  He left after stealing several items from the home.  UPDATE:  Gaskin was pronounced dead at 6:15 pm, Wednesday.

Gaskin then went to another house and rousted a sleeping couple by throwing a log and rocks against a wall.  When Joseph Rector stepped out of his bedroom to investigate Gaskin shot him through a window.  Rector and his wife somehow managed to get in their car and escape, as Gaskin fired several shots at them.  He then burglarized the house.  Gascon was later arrested with the stolen items in his home.  He was convicted on overwhelming evidence, including his confession, and sentenced to death.

In 2015, a unanimous panel of the Eleventh Circuit upheld Darryl Barwick’s conviction and death sentence for the brutal murder of 24-year-old Rebecca Wendt on March 31, 1986.  The facts presented at trial recount how Barwick spotted Wendt sunbathing by her apartment complex pool.   When she was returning to her apartment, Barwick followed her and forced his way in.  He then attacked her with a knife, stabbing her 37 times.  Her body was discovered later by her sister.  Another woman who had also been sunbathing identified Barwick walking through the complex and near Wendt’s apartment.  Following his arrest, Barwick initially denied involvement, but after being confronted with evidence, confessed.  At trial DNA evidence, witness testimony and Barwick’s detailed confession resulted in a  guilty verdict and death sentence.  Later, the state supreme court overturned the conviction due to trial error.  At a second trial, a different jury convicted him and unanimously recommended a death sentence.  Barwick had prior convictions for sexual battery and burglary with assault.

It should not have taken over thirty years to deliver justice for the victims of these murderers.