Bio

Walter Stewart was born in 1956. His early life was troubled and marked by abandonment. When he was just an infant, his parents left him, and he was raised by his grandparents. His grandfather was mentally ill and his grandmother was known for being violent. This unstable home situation greatly affected him.

Growing up, Walter struggled with many challenges. He did not do well in school and eventually dropped out after the ninth grade. As a child, he was hyperactive and faced difficulties controlling his behavior. These issues were compounded when his grandfather had a mental breakdown when Walter was twelve years old.

Walter's life took a turn when he was influenced by his older cousin, Geraldine. She had a reputation for swindling and criminal activities. Walter became involved in crime under her guidance, which led him down a path of robbery and drug use. He began using drugs at a young age, and at one point, he was a heroin addict.

Walter was described as friendly and got along with his coworkers. He attended church and even held jobs. However, the crime and drug use began to define his teenage years. By the time he was a teenager, he had already started to carry and use guns.

Murder Story

Walter Stewart committed two murders during a jewelry store robbery on February 10, 1980, in Cook County, Illinois. On that day, he entered a jewelry store owned by Linda Manzano. Initially, he posed as a customer and left after asking to see some items. He returned later that afternoon with a revolver and announced a robbery.

During the robbery, he ordered Linda Manzano, her brother Danilo Rodica, and her boyfriend Thomas Pavlopoulos to move to the side of the store. When they did not comply immediately, Stewart shot Linda in the abdomen. Danilo and Thomas attempted to tackle Walter to stop him from shooting further, but he fired multiple shots, hitting both men. After they fell to the ground, Stewart shot Danilo again. He then rushed to the back room, where another employee, Laura Landsinger, was hiding. He pointed his gun at her but could not fire because he had run out of bullets.

As Stewart fled the scene, Laura managed to press a holdup button, alerting the police. Authorities arrived quickly and arrested him outside the store. After the incident, Linda Manzano recovered and later identified Stewart in a lineup. When she expressed her sorrow over her brother's death, Stewart responded with cold remarks.

Later that same year, Walter Stewart pleaded guilty to the murders and was sentenced to death. He spent 17 years on death row before being executed by lethal injection in Illinois on November 19, 1997.