Tony Alvin Ables, born on December 28, 1954, is an American serial killer. He first made headlines for the murder of a man and has since been linked to the killings of three women and girls in the Tampa Bay area.

Although only convicted for two murders, DNA evidence in 2006 tied him to the deaths of 84-year-old Adeline McLaughlin and his 31-year-old girlfriend, Deborah Kisor. Despite their past relationship, Ables was never charged with Deborah's murder, and he still awaits trial for Adeline's death.

Currently, he is serving a life sentence for the 1990 murder of another girlfriend, 48-year-old Marlene Burns.

Tony Ables' criminal path started shockingly early. At just 15 years old, in 1970, he committed his first murder during a robbery in St. Petersburg, swiftly landing him behind bars. By March 1971, he was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder. However, he only served 12 years before being paroled in 1983 and finding work as a construction worker.

Just five months after his release, Tony tragically ended the life of 83-year-old Adeline McLaughlin, a retired widow, by breaking into her apartment and suffocating her with a pillow. Her murder left the community stunned as they knew her as a friendly yet mysterious old lady.

On Valentine's Day 1987, the violence continued. Tony murdered his 31-year-old girlfriend, Deborah Kisor. She was last seen alive making a phone call and was found the next day partially dressed with visible bruises. Despite their relationship, Tony wasn’t immediately suspected in her death.

The cycle of violence didn’t stop there. In 1990, after an argument with his new girlfriend, 48-year-old Marlene Burns, Tony pushed her down the stairs and fatally beat her. Caught red-handed cleaning blood off his hands, he was arrested and convicted of first-degree murder.

Originally sentenced to death, Tony’s sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment due to mental health issues. His troubled childhood, marked by domestic abuse, was cited as a significant factor.

In 2006, breakthrough DNA evidence linked Tony to the murders of McLaughlin and Kisor. Although he wasn’t charged in Kisor’s death, which is considered resolved, he was officially booked for McLaughlin’s murder. Authorities suspect Tony might be responsible for more crimes.