There’s not many people facing the wrath of the US criminal justice system that would volunteer themselves to go on Death Row, but Steven Lorenzo did.
It was quite the turning point, as the 65-year-old had defiantly fought the murder charges brought against him for the brutal slayings of Jason Galehouse and Michael Wachholtz for years – until he changed his mind at the eleventh hour.
The two victims disappeared in December 2003 after meeting Lorenzo at a nightclub in Tampa, Florida, before their remains were tragically found in bins littered around the city.
The killer’s co-defendant Scott Schweickert – who was also involved in the murders – struck a plea deal with prosecutors in exchange for avoiding the death penalty and revealed the sickening details of their crimes.
He told the court that he and Lorenzo had drugged, tortured and killed Galehouse and Wachholtz before disposing of their bodies – seeing the sexually-motivated murders send shockwaves through the LGBTQ+ community in Tampa.
Steven Lorenzo was sentenced to death for the horrific double murder (Hillsborough County Sheriffs Department)
Lorenzo, who represented himself in the case, maintained his innocence until December 2022, when he decided to submit a guilty plea regarding the murders of the two 26-year-old victims.
He said he did not want to wait for a jury to decide his fate and did not intend to present any evidence or testimony which could result in him avoiding execution.
Schweickert was slapped with a life sentence without the possibility of parole, but dodged being placed on Death Row due to his cooperation with authorities.
However, things weren’t as cut and dry in the courtroom when it came to Lorenzo’s sentencing.
Shocking footage from the hearing in February 2023 at the Hillsborough County Courthouse captured the moment that the 65-year-old made a bizarre request to Judge Christopher Sabella, which you can watch below:
Lorenzo took a moment to thank everyone in the room, telling prosecutors he had ‘no animosity’ towards them, before putting his case across about why he wanted to receive the ultimate punishment.
He said: “In this lifetime I’m the bad guy, you’re a good guy. Maybe in the next lifetime, the roles will be reversed.”
Sharing his wishes for the outcome of the sentencing hearing, Lorenzo explained: “I’m seeking the death penalty. It’s in my best interest, basically, because it’s a comfort.
“I’ll be living a lot more comfortable than I would in the federal system, living on death row, believe it or not.
“And, of course, that may sound selfish, but I’ve lived in a private cell for the last five years, and I’m going to have a private cell on death row. At my age, I want to be comfortable. I want my privacy.”
He made a bizarre plea encouraging the judge to put him on Death Row during sentencing (YouTube/Law and Crime)
The convict said he viewed execution as ‘euthanasia’ and believes that the ‘sooner he can get euthanised, the sooner I can get myself a new body and come back again in a fresh one’.
Lorenzo added: “That’s how I look at it, that’s how it is, that’s how a spirit works, we’re eternal beings.
“I’ve got better things to do with my time than spend the next 15, 20 years on Death Row or in any prison system.
“So that’s what I’m asking for – it’s selfish, but that’s what I want.”
Unfortunately for him, Judge Sabella made it clear his admission would have no impact on his ruling.
He told the double murderer: “I don’t know if what you say is perhaps some form of reverse psychology, nor do I care, I will not consider what you want in issuing my sentence.”
The judge then referred to testimony given by Galehouse and Wachholtz’s mothers, Pam Williams and Ruth Wachholtz, describing them both as ‘two very strong young ladies’.
Judge Christopher Sabella made it clear Lorenzo’s request did not have any impact on his ruling (YouTube/Law and Crime)
He continued: “The thing that was consistent in their testimony is that they have been waiting 20 years for justice.
“Today, that long wait ends.
“In the words of Ms. Pam Williams, ‘From one Italian to another, Ti condanno a morte.’ That translates to ‘I sentence you to death’. That is the punishment that you deserve for these horrific crimes.”
Sabella ordered for Lorenzo to be put to death by lethal injection – which came at the request of the victims’ loved ones, rather than the killer. He currently remains incarcerated.
In the US state of Florida, 105 convicted murderers have been executed since 1976 at Florida State Prison and there are hundreds of inmates currently on Death Row.
The last execution took place on 3 October, 2023, when Michael Duane Zack was given the lethal injection following his conviction for the 1996 robbery, sexual assault and murder of a woman.
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