Bio

Charles Sylvester Stamper was born in 1953. He grew up in Richmond, Virginia. Charles came from a working-class family. His father worked as a parts worker for Greyhound Lines. There is not much detailed public information about his early childhood or schooling.

As a young adult, Charles took a job as a cook. He worked at a Shoney's restaurant in Henrico County, Virginia. Charles had worked there for a couple of months before the events that later led to his conviction. His job was important to him, but he was not satisfied with his wages. He informed his managers that he planned to quit because he needed more money.

Stamper lived with his wife in an apartment in the Laburnum area, but they struggled financially. He was often behind on his rent. In March 1978, Charles received a notice regarding overdue rent. In addition to his financial troubles, he had other debts, including a small amount owed to a jeweler.

In the weeks leading up to the tragic events in March 1978, Charles was reportedly feeling a significant amount of pressure due to his financial situation. He had even discussed purchasing a car, claiming to have cash for a down payment. However, the car was never bought.

Murder Story

On March 25, 1978, Charles Sylvester Stamper committed a robbery at a Shoney's restaurant in Henrico County, Virginia, where he worked as a cook. During the early morning hours, he herded three of his coworkers, Steven Staples, Agnes Hicks, and Franklin Cooley, into a walk-in freezer. Stamper then shot all three of them with a .22 caliber pistol. After the shootings, he stole approximately $4,000 from the restaurant's safe.

The crime scene was discovered later that morning by another employee who found the bodies inside the freezer. The front door of the restaurant had been broken from the inside, indicating that they had let Stamper in. An investigation revealed that Stamper had been at the restaurant earlier and had knowledge of its operations, including the safe's combination. A significant amount of circumstantial evidence pointed to Stamper, including the discovery of a .22 caliber gun near his parents' home.

Stamper was arrested and charged with three counts of capital murder and robbery. He was convicted and sentenced to death. His appeals and various legal motions, including petitions for clemency, were ultimately denied.

After many years on death row, he was executed by electrocution on January 19, 1993. At that time, Stamper was reported to be physically disabled, having suffered a spinal injury while in prison. Despite calls for clemency due to his condition, the governor decided against intervening. Stamper was carried to the electric chair by prison guards, marking the end of his legal battles.