FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Office of the State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit, communications@sao13th.com
Defendant Steven Lorenzo Is Sentenced To Death
February 24, 2023 – Judge Christopher Sabella announced today he agreed with the State Attorney’s Office that Defendant Steven Lorenzo should be put to death for his horrific crimes. As State Attorney Susan S. Lopez explained in her opening statement in the penalty phase of this case, the only appropriate outcome for these murders was a death sentence for Lorenzo.
Jason Galehouse’s and Michael Wachholtz’s lives were taken at the hands of this monster. Their murders were crimes of entertainment and self-satisfaction for Defendant Lorenzo. State Attorney Lopez noted, “Defendant Lorenzo’s actions were unquestionably heinous, cruel, and atrocious. He was always going to die in prison given his prior convictions, but these murders require the penalty of our prison system putting him to death. On a date set by Florida’s Governor, Defendant Lorenzo will have his last meal, be walked from his cell to the death chamber, be executed, and then Jason, Michael, their families, and their friends will receive the justice they have always deserved. “
State Attorney Lopez added, “The court heard directly from the courageous, brave mothers of Jason and Michael, who have been left to endure this tragedy. I cannot thank them enough for working with our team and summoning the tenacity to face this murderer in court.”
Ruth Wachholtz, Michael’s mother, has requested that the Office of the State Attorney release the following on her behalf: “The wheels of the justice system turn slowly but they do continue to turn. When I think of my son, I think of him skydiving and the joy he had for life. I believe he will be waiting in the palm of God’s hand for me.” In addition, Pam Williams, Jason’s mother, testified during her court testimony that Defendant Lorenzo “does not deserve to be living.”
Defendant Steven Lorenzo, along with his co-defendant Scott Schweikert, who is already serving a life sentence, killed Jason Galehouse and Michael Wachholtz in December 2003. Defendant Lorenzo was previously convicted of drug-related charges in the federal criminal justice system and sentenced to 200 years in prison. Defendant Lorenzo chose to represent himself. He was assigned stand-by legal counsel, as is customary in the state criminal justice system when someone chooses to represent themselves for such serious crimes. At various points during the process, Lorenzo filed documents seeking to avoid the death penalty, then offering to plead guilty, and then asking for the death penalty. Ultimately, he pled guilty to these two murders. The Defendant waived his constitutional right to have a jury recommend whether he should live or die as a result of his guilt. Over the course of several days, Judge Sabella presided over the penalty phase of the case. He heard from law enforcement detectives, saw crime scene photographs, read chat messages between these co-defendants, listened to other surviving victims, and heard from Jason’s mother and Michael’s mother. Ultimately, Judge Sabella issued his order today explaining the overwhelming evidence and legal justification for this death sentence.
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