Bio

Sterling J. Rault Jr. was born in 1951 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up in a family that valued education and hard work. His father worked in a job that required dedication, and this had a significant influence on Rault. He was the kind of student who performed well academically and was known to be friendly and outgoing.

After high school, Rault went on to pursue a degree in accounting. He eventually found a job at the Louisiana Energy and Development Company as an assistant comptroller. He started this role in 1981, and that same year, he met Jane Ellen Francioni, who worked as his secretary.

Rault was seen as successful in his early career. He had a steady job and was able to support his family, which included his high school sweetheart and their two young children. However, his financial life began to unravel. Just before his move to the Louisiana Energy and Development Company, Rault was involved in a significant embezzlement case while working at a previous company, Masonite. He managed to repay the money he stole, but he was never prosecuted.

As he settled into his new job, Rault's troubles continued. He started forging company checks and mismanaging funds again. Despite these mounting issues, Rault maintained a public image as a dedicated family man and civic-minded individual. He was involved in local community activities, such as running Christmas parades through the Jaycees organization.

Rault's life took a darker turn as he became deeply entangled in financial deceit. He was known to have a strong desire for an image of success, which sometimes led him to extreme actions. His relationship with Francioni remained professional at first, but it would later bring significant consequences for both their lives.

Murder Story

Sterling J. Rault Jr. committed a murder on March 1, 1982, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Rault, who was an accountant, murdered his secretary, Jane Ellen Francioni, who was 21 years old. He was afraid that she would expose him for embezzling $84,000 from their workplace, the Louisiana Energy and Development Company.

On that day, Rault asked Francioni for a ride to his accounting class. Once in her car, he shot her with a .25-caliber pistol. He then raped her, beat her, and cut her throat with a knife. After the attack, he disposed of her body in a remote area and set it on fire using gasoline to destroy any evidence of the crime. However, an off-duty police officer saw the fire and arrested Rault soon after.

During the investigation, Rault gave several inconsistent confessions. Initially, he claimed that he and Francioni were kidnapped by two masked men who killed her. Later, he offered various explanations, including one that involved supposed supernatural influences from deceased family members.

Rault was tried and found guilty in October 1982. He received the death penalty, which was upheld by the Louisiana Supreme Court. After years of appeals, he was executed by electrocution on August 24, 1987. Rault maintained his innocence until the end, declaring that the state was executing an innocent man in his final statement.