Bio

Kenneth Allen Stewart was born on August 26, 1963. He grew up in Florida. It is reported that Stewart had a troubled childhood. As he got older, he became involved in small crimes. These included stealing and other troubles with the law.

Stewart's life took a further turn when he became involved with drugs. His behavior became more reckless during this time. He had a few run-ins with law enforcement for various offenses.

Stewart eventually moved to Hillsborough County, Florida. It was here that he became more deeply involved in crime.

Murder Story

On December 6, 1984, Kenneth Allen Stewart shot and killed Ruben Diaz in Hillsborough County, Florida. He shot Diaz twice in the head at close range. After the murder, he and an accomplice set Diaz’s car on fire in a nearby shopping mall parking lot to hide any evidence.

Stewart's attack on Diaz was not an isolated incident. On April 14, 1988, he also murdered Mark Harris under similar circumstances. During both crimes, Stewart used a gun and aimed to rob his victims before killing them.

Stewart was arrested months after the murder of Diaz due to similar offenses. During his trial, key witnesses testified against him. One witness, Randall Bilbrey, said that Stewart confessed to him about robbing and killing a man whom he described as fitting Diaz's appearance. Bilbrey explained that Stewart had lured Diaz into his car under the pretense of needing a ride.

Another witness, Terry Smith, provided similar testimony. He described how Stewart had forced a different man to drive to a remote area and then shot him. These testimonies helped to build the case against Stewart.

Ultimately, Stewart was sentenced to death for the murder of both Ruben Diaz and Mark Harris. His original sentence was given on October 3, 1986, and he went through several resentencing processes in the following years. He maintained his innocence and filed multiple appeals, but his death sentences were upheld.