Bio

Stephen Allen Vrabel was born on October 15, 1956. He grew up in Ohio. Details about his early childhood are limited, but he lived in a suburban area where his family dynamics and early influences remain largely unrecorded.

Vrabel had a troubled life as he grew older. He faced challenges with mental illness, which became apparent during his adulthood. He had encounters with the law before being involved in serious criminal activities. This included arrests for disorderly conduct and driving under the influence.

In the years leading up to his crimes, Vrabel was in a long-term relationship with Susan Clemente. The couple lived together in Struthers, Ohio. They had a daughter named Lisa, who was born in 1985. Reports suggest that his life involved a mixture of personal struggles and attempts to maintain a family life.

In March 1989, Vrabel purchased a handgun. This act marked a significant turn in his life, leading to tragic events that would define his future. Despite having a live-in girlfriend and a young daughter, there were signs of instability in his mental health. This aspect of his life would play a crucial role in later assessments of his actions.

After the events of March 3, 1989, he was declared incompetent to stand trial for several years, due to his mental health state. He spent time in psychiatric facilities before he was evaluated as competent to face trial. The combination of experiences in his early life, relationships, and his mental illness contributed to the complexities surrounding his case as it moved through the judicial system.

Murder Story

On March 3, 1989, Stephen Allen Vrabel bought a handgun. That day, he shot and killed his girlfriend, Susan Clemente, and their three-year-old daughter, Lisa, in their home in Struthers, Ohio. After the shootings, he placed Susan's body in the refrigerator and Lisa's body in the freezer, along with two of her favorite stuffed animals.

Vrabel continued to live in the apartment for several weeks after the murders. He attempted to clean up the scene and told others that Susan and Lisa were not home. On April 4, he left the apartment, but he returned a day later. While driving, he learned from the news that the bodies had been discovered.

Feeling guilt or distress, he went to a nearby church, confessed to the priest, and turned himself in to the police on April 6, 1989. During interviews with law enforcement, he admitted to the murders but offered no clear motive for killing Susan. He claimed he shot Lisa because she was “freaking out” after her mother's death, and he believed it was better for her to die.

Following his arrest, Vrabel was found to be mentally ill and was committed to a psychiatric facility for five years. In 1994, he was deemed competent to stand trial. At trial, he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity but later withdrew that plea, opting to represent himself at times.

In 1995, a jury convicted him of two counts of aggravated murder, resulting in a death sentence. After several years of appeals, Vrabel waived his right to further appeals. He was executed by lethal injection on July 14, 2004. In his final words, he expressed gratitude for his sister and offered apologies to those he may have wronged.