A manhunt is underway for Steve Stephens after the 37-year old appeared to commit a murder on Facebook Live Sunday afternoon, prior to getting into his car and confessing to many other killings.
Police have warned residents in Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana and Michigan to be on high alert as they search for the suspect.
On Easter Sunday, around 2 p.m., a video went viral on social media that depicts Stephens stepping out of his vehicle and approaching an elderly man.
“Imma kill this guy right here – this old dude,” Stephens says into the camera, addressing a 74-year old later identified as Robert Godwin Sr. and telling him:
“Hi, can you do me a favor? Can you say ‘Joy Lane?"”
Godwin does as he’s told and Stephens replies:
Yeah, she’s the reason all this is about to happen to you.
Stephens then pulls the trigger and drives away in his car.
Shortly after this horrible incident was made public, Lane texted a CBS affiliate and wrote of Stephens:
“We had been in a relationship for several years. I am sorry that all of this has happened. My heart and prayers goes out to the family members of the victim.
“Steve really is a nice guy… he is generous with everyone he knows. He was kind and loving to me and my children.
“This is a very difficult time for me and my family Please respect our privacy at this time.”
Here is a photo of Robert Godwin Sr. May he rest in peace:
Following the online emergence of the first video, a second piece of footage has been making the rounds.
It features Stephens talking on the phone to someone and claiming he has killed 13 people.
“I just snapped… that’s what I did, I just killed 13 people. I’m going to keep killing until they catch me,” he says.
He ends the phone call and apologizes to the camera, saying he’s working on killing a 14th person “as we speak.”
Cleveland Police have released an aggravated murder warrant for Stephens and urged anyone who sees him or his car to get in touch as soon as they can.
Says a spokesman for the department:
No additional victims have been located and officers continue to search multiple areas.
Suspect did broadcast the killing on Facebook Live and has claimed to have committed multiple other homicides which are still not verified. Suspect in this case is a bm Steve Stephens 6’1 244 bald with a full beard. Wearing dark blue and grey or black striped polo shirt. Driving a white Ford Fusion with a temp tag.
Armed and dangerous. If seen call 9-1-1. Do not approach.
In a series of Facebook posts from a now-deleted account authorities believe to have belonged to Stephens, the suspected murder called the killing his “Easter day slaughter,” according to NBC.
He complained that he had “lost everything” from gambling.
We will not post Stephens’ videos, out of respect for Godwin and any other victims.
Robert Godwin Jr. told The Plain Dealer that his father had nine children and 14 grandchildren, adding that the retired foundry worker loved to go fishing.
“I just want him caught,” he told the newspaper of Stephens. “Because he can do it to somebody else.”