South Florida Serial Murders

Overview

Between February 1997 and August 2001, South Florida became the haunting backdrop for a series of serial murders predominantly targeting disenfranchised women. These chilling cases remain largely unsolved, with a total of ten victims identified, six of whom are still awaiting justice. Among the victims was the tragic case of Star Stowe, a former Playboy model whose life took a dark turn.

Quick Facts

• Total Victims: 10 (6 unsolved)
• Time Frame: February 25, 1997 – August 2001
• Country: United States
• State: Florida
• Date Apprehended: Joel Tiller in 2001; Roberto Wagner Fernandes identified posthumously as a perpetrator; other suspects remain unapprehended.

The Murders

The timeline of these murders reveals a grim pattern, with each victim bearing the marks of a society that often overlooked their plight.

Sandra Kay Walters

On February 25, 1997, the lifeless body of Sandra Kay Walters, 32, was discovered behind an adult bookstore in Palm Beach County. Strangled and nude, Walters had a history steeped in drug use and prostitution. Authorities believe she was likely picked up by a john, only to meet a tragic fate.

Star Stowe

Fast forward to March 16, 1997, when the body of Star Stowe, 40, was found half-naked in the bushes behind an Eckerd pharmacy in Coral Springs. Stowe, who graced the pages of the February 1977 issue of Playboy as Playmate of the Month, was more than just a name; she was a former girlfriend of rock legend Gene Simmons. After relocating to Fort Lauderdale in 1986 with dreams of becoming an exotic dancer, she fell into the grips of drug addiction and prostitution—an all-too-common story in this series of murders.

Theresa Kettner

On November 21, 1997, Theresa Kettner, 41, was discovered murdered in a grassy area behind Turtle Run Shoppes in Coral Springs. Details about her life remain less public, but her death further fueled the urgency to find the person responsible for these slayings.

Tammy M. Strunk

Just a week later, on November 28, 1997, the body of Tammy M. Strunk, 36, was found stuffed in a trash bin at a shopping center in Sunrise, Florida. Strunk, who was homeless, had last been seen three days before her murder at a Salvation Army. This case introduced a peculiar piece of evidence: a dark-blue towel with the monogrammed letters "JSM," which was found disposed of alongside her body. Investigators began to consider a possible connection to the ongoing series of murders.

Sheila Griffin

In January 1999, Sheila Griffin, a 44-year-old former nurse, was discovered partially clothed and strangled in a vacant lot in Fort Lauderdale. Her case marked a pivotal moment in the investigation, as the authorities began to see a pattern emerging.

Crystal Martin

In February 1999, the body of Crystal Martin was found strangled in a motel in Fort Lauderdale. Her death added another layer to the tragic tapestry of victims, all of whom shared similar life struggles.

Melissa Ljames

Finally, in June 2000, Melissa Ljames, 30, was discovered murdered and dumped in a canal in Fort Lauderdale. Ljames had a minor criminal record, but her life—and death—would become part of the chilling narrative of these unsolved murders.

Suspects

Joel Tiller

The investigation took a dramatic turn on June 27, 2001, when Joel Tiller, a homeless man, was arrested in Miami. DNA evidence linked him to the rape and murder of Sheila Griffin and further implicated him in the rape and robbery of an 88-year-old tourist in Orlando earlier that year. Tiller's criminal history was horrifying; he had previously been convicted of raping and murdering a woman in Georgia in 1968, setting a woman on fire in front of her daughter, and choking and raping another woman in San Diego in 1996. Sentenced to two life sentences in 2003, investigators acknowledged the frightening possibility of his involvement in the South Florida murders.

Roberto Wagner Fernandes

In a twist of fate, Roberto Wagner Fernandes, who met his end in a plane crash in Paraguay in 2005, was linked in 2021 to three murders that fell within the same time frame as the others. The victims—Kim Dietz-Livesey, killed in June 2000; Sia Demas, murdered in August 2000; and Jessica Good, whose body was found in Biscayne Bay in August 2001—were potentially the work of the same killer. While police believe Fernandes may be responsible for additional unsolved murders in South Florida, only these three have been confirmed.

Conclusion

The South Florida serial murders remain an unresolved and haunting chapter in the annals of true crime. Each victim's story reflects a tragic intersection of vulnerability and violence, ultimately leaving a community grappling with fear and unresolved grief. As investigators continue to sift through evidence and DNA technology advances, the hope of closure for the victims and their families remains alive, albeit shrouded in the shadows of uncertainty.

Sources

• "STAR'S FALL A DARK TALE AFTER WORLD OF GLAMOUR." Sun Sentinel. March 23, 1997. Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
• "INVESTIGATORS CONSIDER LINK IN 3 SLAYINGS." Sun Sentinel. December 4, 1997. Archived from the original on January 21, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
• "BODY OF NUDE WOMAN FOUND STUFFED IN SUITCASE." Sun Sentinel. June 23, 2000. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
• "ANOTHER WOMAN'S BODY LEFT BY A ROAD." Sun Sentinel. August 10, 2000. Archived from the original on January 21, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
• "DNA leads to arrest of transient in 1999 Ft. Lauderdale murder." WDUN (AM). June 28, 2002. Archived from the original on January 21, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
• "Murderer, rapist gets two life sentences." The Ledger. August 30, 2003. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
• "Roberto Fernandes Identified As Serial Killer In Three South Florida Cold Case Murders." CBS News. August 31, 2021. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.