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South Florida serial murders

COLD1997South Florida (Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties), Florida, United States4 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

Between February 1997 and August 2001, a number of women were found killed in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties in South Florida. Several had experienced homelessness, substance-use disorders, or involvement in sex work. Investigators at various points considered whether some of these killings were connected, though most remain unsolved or only partially resolved.

Sandra Kay Walters, 32, was found strangled behind an adult bookstore in Palm Beach County on February 25, 1997. Investigators said they believed she had been killed by someone who had solicited her for sex. On March 16, 1997, the body of 40-year-old Ellen Louise "Star" Stowe was discovered behind an Eckerd pharmacy in Coral Springs. Stowe had been Playboy's Playmate of the Month for February 1977 and had moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1986; contemporary reporting said she later struggled with substance use and engaged in sex work. Later that year, on November 21, Theresa Kettner, 41, was found killed behind Turtle Run Shoppes in Coral Springs, and on November 28, 36-year-old Tammy M. Strunk, who had experienced homelessness, was found in a trash bin at a Sunrise shopping center. After Strunk's death, investigators began considering a possible link among the cases and collected physical evidence, including a monogrammed towel found with her body.

In January 1999, 44-year-old Sheila Griffin, a former nurse, was found partially clothed and strangled in a vacant lot in Fort Lauderdale. In February 1999, Crystal Martin was found strangled in a Fort Lauderdale motel. In June 2000, 30-year-old Melissa Ljames was found in a canal in Fort Lauderdale.

Joel Tiller was arrested on June 27, 2001, after DNA evidence linked him to the sexual assault and murder of Sheila Griffin. In 2003 he pleaded guilty to those crimes and received two life terms. He also pleaded guilty to a separate rape in Orlando and received a life sentence plus 40 years. Investigators said they were examining whether he might be connected to other unsolved killings.

Separately, in 2021 Broward County and Miami investigators identified Roberto Wagner Fernandes, who died in a 2005 plane crash in Paraguay, as responsible for three killings originally grouped with the broader series: Kim Dietz-Livesey in June 2000, Sia Demas in August 2000, and Jessica Good, whose body was found in Biscayne Bay in August 2001. Authorities said fingerprint and DNA evidence connected Fernandes to all three crime scenes. Investigators said he might have been responsible for other unsolved South Florida killings, but they publicly attributed only these three deaths to him.

Key facts

Victims
Jessica Good, Sia Demas, Sandra Kay Walters, Theresa Kettner, Melissa Ljames, Tammy M. Strunk, Sheila Griffin, Crystal Martin, Star Stowe, Kim Dietz-Livesey
Date
1997
Location
South Florida (Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties), Florida, United States
Case status
cold

Case timeline

  1. 1997-02-25

    Sandra Kay Walters, 32, found strangled and nude behind an adult bookstore in Palm Beach County.

  2. 1997-03-16

    Star Stowe, 40, former Playboy Playmate, found dead behind an Eckerd pharmacy in Coral Springs.

  3. 1997-11-21

    Theresa Kettner, 41, found murdered behind Turtle Run Shoppes in Coral Springs.

  4. 1997-11-28

    Tammy M. Strunk, 36, found dead in a trash bin at a shopping center in Sunrise, Florida.

  5. 1999-01

    Sheila Griffin, 44, found partially clothed and strangled in a vacant lot in Fort Lauderdale.

  6. 1999-02

    Crystal Martin found strangled in a Fort Lauderdale motel.

  7. 2000-06

    Melissa Ljames, 30, found murdered and dumped in a canal in Fort Lauderdale.

  8. 2000-06

    Kim Dietz-Livesey killed; later connected to Roberto Fernandes.

  9. 2000-08

    Sia Demas killed; later connected to Roberto Fernandes.

  10. 2001-06-27

    Joel Tiller arrested in Miami after DNA linked him to the rape and murder of Sheila Griffin.

  11. 2001-08

    Body of Jessica Good discovered in Biscayne Bay; later connected to Roberto Fernandes.

  12. 2003

    Joel Tiller received two life sentences.

  13. 2005

    Roberto Wagner Fernandes died in a plane crash in Paraguay.

  14. 2021

    Roberto Fernandes connected to the murders of Kim Dietz-Livesey, Sia Demas, and Jessica Good.

Best coverage

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People

  • Jessica Good

    VICTIM

    Body discovered in Biscayne Bay in August 2001; later connected to Roberto Fernandes in 2021.

  • Sia Demas

    VICTIM

    Killed in August 2000; later connected to Roberto Fernandes in 2021.

  • Sandra Kay Walters

    VICTIM

    Found strangled and nude behind an adult bookstore in Palm Beach County on February 25, 1997.

  • Theresa Kettner

    VICTIM

    Found murdered behind Turtle Run Shoppes in Coral Springs on November 21, 1997.

  • Roberto Wagner Fernandes

    CHARGED

    Connected in 2021 to the murders of Kim Dietz-Livesey, Sia Demas, and Jessica Good; died in a plane crash in Paraguay in 2005 before any prosecution.

  • Melissa Ljames

    VICTIM

    Found murdered and dumped in a canal in Fort Lauderdale in June 2000.

  • Tammy M. Strunk

    VICTIM

    Homeless woman found dead in a trash bin at a Sunrise shopping center on November 28, 1997.

  • Joel Tiller

    CONVICTED

    Arrested June 27, 2001, after DNA connected him to the rape and murder of Sheila Griffin; received two life sentences in 2003; previously convicted of a 1968 rape and murder in Georgia and a 1996 rape in San Diego.

  • Sheila Griffin

    VICTIM

    Former nurse found partially clothed and strangled in a vacant lot in Fort Lauderdale in January 1999; her murder was connected to Joel Tiller via DNA.

  • Crystal Martin

    VICTIM

    Found strangled in a Fort Lauderdale motel in February 1999.

  • Star Stowe

    VICTIM

    Former Playboy Playmate found dead behind an Eckerd pharmacy in Coral Springs on March 16, 1997.

  • Kim Dietz-Livesey

    VICTIM

    Killed in June 2000; later connected to Roberto Fernandes in 2021.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

South Florida (Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties), Florida, United States

26.1224, -80.1373

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Between February 1997 and August 2001, women including Sandra Kay Walters and Ellen Louise "Star" Stowe were killed across South Florida. Joel Tiller later pleaded guilty to the rape and murder of Sheila Griffin; in 2021, authorities attributed the deaths of Kim Dietz-Livesey, Sia Demas, and Jessica Good to the late Roberto Wagner Fernandes, while the remaining cases are unresolved.
Where did the murders happen?
South Florida (Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties), Florida, United States.
Who was convicted?
Joel Tiller (Arrested June 27, 2001, after DNA connected him to the rape and murder of Sheila Griffin; received two life sentences in 2003; previously convicted of a 1968 rape and murder in Georgia and a 1996 rape in San Diego.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: cold.
More cases in Florida

Sources

  1. PRESSMurderer, rapist gets two life sentencesThe Ledger · 2026-07-11
  2. ENCYCLOPEDICSouth Florida serial murdersWikipedia · 2026-07-10
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — Roberto Fernandes identified as serial killer in cold case murdersCBS News · 2026-07-10
  4. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — 1997 Sun-Sentinel reportsun-sentinel.com · 2026-07-10