Execution date set for Flagler's 'Ninja killer' for 1989 double-slaying

Louis Gaskin, who was known as the “Ninja killer” for the murder of a couple in Flagler County more than three decades ago, is scheduled to be executed on April 12.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the death warrant on Monday and the Florida State Prison has scheduled Gaskin’s execution for 6 p.m. on April 12 by lethal injection.

Gaskin would be the first Flagler County inmate ever executed.

Gaskin, 56, shot and killed Robert and Georgette Sturmfels inside their Palm Coast home on the night of Dec. 20, 1989. Robert Sturmfels was 56 and Georgette Sturmfels was 55.

Six months after the double murder, a jury recommended by an 8 to 4 vote that Gaskin be sentenced to death. A judge then sentenced him to death.

Gaskin was dressed up as a ninja on the night of the murders and went hunting for victims.

He found them in the Sturmfels, who were snowbirds from New Jersey and spent their winters in Palm Coast. At the time, the couple's home at 10 Ripley Place was the only one on the cul-de-sac amidst woods.

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Gaskin saw the Sturmfels sitting in their family room.

While still outside the house, Gaskin shot Robert Sturmfels as he sat in a chair. Sturmfels clutched at his chest and stood.

Gaskin then shot Georgette Sturmfels.

Gaskin then entered the house and shot both of them at close range.

Gaskin took a clock, a pair of lamps, and a videocassette recorder. As he tried to find his way back to Royal Palms Parkway, he wound up on Ricker Place and noticed another house.

This time Gaskin couldn’t get a clear shot from outside so he tried to lure the residents outside. He cut the telephone cord and threw rocks and wood on the roof.

Joe and Nadeen Rector heard the noise and tried to call police but the line was dead. When they walked into the master bedroom to try another phone, Gaskin shot at them. He hit Joe Rector.

The couple managed to get outside to their car. As they drove away, Gaskin fired five more times at them, hitting the car. Doctors were able to save Joe Rector.

An informant led to a break in the case. The informant told police that his sister was dating Gaskin and that Gaskin may have given her some of the things he had stolen from the Sturmfels for Christmas.

The informant also said he had the murder weapon.

Gaskin confessed to the killings. He also admitted to killing a co-worker in 1986 and to shooting and injuring a woman outside a Daytona Beach bank in the summer of 1989.

He told a psychologist before his trial that he knew what he was doing.

"The guilt was always there," Gaskin told him. "The devil had more of a hold than God did. I knew that I was wrong. I wasn't insane."

Clearly mentally ill

Attorney Christopher Quarles in Ormond Beach represented Gaskin on his appeal but no longer represents him. He begged to differ as far as Gaskin's sanity was concerned.

“Louis Gaskin is one of the clearly more mentally ill clients that I ever represented,” Quarles said.

He said Gaskin was motivated by a lack of money for the holidays.

“The motivation was he didn’t have any money to buy Christmas presents for his family,” Quarles said.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Execution date set for Flagler's 'ninja killer" in 1989 double-slaying