Bio 

Stephen K. Johns was born on September 26, 1946, in the United States. By early 1982, Johns was living in Missouri and associated with Robert Shawn Wishon, Linda Klund, and David Smith. Court records show that Johns had discussed plans to rob the Onyx gas station in St. Louis before the crime occurred. He also reportedly told an acquaintance that he did not leave witnesses.

Johns became known publicly after the February 1982 robbery and murder of Donald Voepel Jr., a 17-year-old gas station attendant. He was arrested the next day and later convicted of capital murder. Johns maintained his innocence during his appeals and in his final statement, but his conviction and death sentence were upheld.

Murder Story

On the evening of February 18, 1982, Stephen K. Johns and Robert Shawn Wishon went to an Onyx gas station in St. Louis, Missouri. Linda Klund drove them to the area and waited nearby while the two men entered the station. The gas station was robbed of about $248. During the robbery, 17-year-old attendant Donald Voepel Jr. was shot three times in the back of the head at close range. His body was later found face down in a storage room by a customer who stopped at the station shortly before 8:00 p.m.

After the robbery, Johns and Wishon returned to Klund’s vehicle. Klund followed an escape route that Johns had planned earlier. The group later disposed of the money bag. Johns gave Klund $50 and asked her to keep a bag containing the gun and bullets so he would not have them if police picked him up. Johns was arrested on February 19, 1982. Police later recovered the gun, and forensic testing connected it to the murder weapon. Robert Wishon pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 1983 and was later paroled in 2001.

Johns was charged with capital murder on March 4, 1982. His trial began on October 18, 1982, in the Circuit Court of St. Louis. On October 22, 1982, the jury recommended a death sentence. On January 7, 1983, the court formally sentenced Johns to death. Johns spent nearly 19 years on death row while pursuing appeals. His conviction and sentence were affirmed by the Missouri Supreme Court, and later federal appeals were denied. He continued to claim innocence, arguing that the case did not conclusively prove he was the shooter.

Stephen K. Johns was executed by lethal injection at Potosi Correctional Center in Missouri on October 24, 2001. He was 55 years old. His final statement maintained his innocence and criticized those involved in his conviction and execution.