The Final Reckoning: Decades-Old Double Murder Culminates in Execution

More than three decades after a tranquil Flagler County home was shattered by unimaginable violence, Louis Bernard Gaskin, 56, is slated to face his final reckoning. Governor Ron DeSantis has signed the death warrant, setting June 6, 2023, as the date for Gaskin's execution by lethal injection, a grim culmination of a case that has haunted Florida for over 33 years.

Gaskin's conviction stems from the brutal slayings of Robert Sturmfels, 56, and his wife, Georgette Sturmfels, 57.

On December 20, 1989, Gaskin reportedly broke into their home, savagely stabbing the couple to death before ransacking their residence. The horror of the crime sent shockwaves through the quiet community, leaving behind a legacy of grief and an enduring demand for justice.

The path to identifying Gaskin as the perpetrator was built on a series of critical discoveries.

Investigators traced a stolen lamp from the Sturmfels’ home to the residence of Gaskin’s girlfriend. Further incriminating evidence emerged when items directly linked to the victims were found in Gaskin’s vehicle. Initially, Gaskin confessed to the gruesome murders, providing details that corroborated the crime scene.

However, he later recanted, claiming he was not the sole killer and that another individual was involved, a defense that ultimately failed to sway the courts.

Throughout the ensuing decades, Gaskin’s legal team launched numerous appeals, challenging his conviction and sentence. Among these were claims of intellectual disability, arguing Gaskin was not mentally capable of understanding his crime or punishment.

The Florida Supreme Court, however, rejected these appeals. More recently, the court also denied a stay of execution based on a mental health evaluation and allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel during his trial. Each appeal has been met with firm denials, reinforcing the state’s commitment to the original verdict and sentence.

Gaskin's execution marks a significant moment for Florida’s justice system, representing the fourth execution within the past year.

This underscores a renewed momentum in carrying out capital punishment in the state. As the clock ticks down to June 6, the families of Robert and Georgette Sturmfels prepare to witness the final chapter of a long and painful journey, hoping for closure after decades of anguish following a crime that irrevocably altered their lives.