On July 15, 1982, authorities in Orlando, Florida, discovered the bodies of Edward Wise, a 47-year-old white male, and his live-in partner, John Stinson, a 44-year-old white male, in their home on Henry Balch Drive. Both men had been shot and stabbed to death. The medical examiner estimated they had been deceased for at least a week, possibly up to ten days.
The discovery was prompted by a mail carrier who noticed an accumulation of uncollected mail and a foul odor emanating from the residence.
Initially, investigators did not suspect that Wise and Stinson, both white males, had engaged in activities that would have led to such violence, as they were not known to associate with individuals who might pose a threat. However, the nature of the crime suggested a targeted attack. Subsequent investigations linked their murders to a series of homicides targeting gay men in Florida and Mississippi during that period.
The perpetrator, Donald William Dufour, was arrested on October 14, 1982. Dufour was later convicted and sentenced to death in both Mississippi and Florida for multiple murders committed between July and October 1982. His victims included Edward Wise and John Stinson, as well as other gay men, indicating a pattern in his crimes.
Dufour's arrest and subsequent convictions brought some closure to the series of violent crimes that had alarmed communities across state lines. His case remains a stark reminder of the dangers faced by marginalized groups and the importance of thorough investigative work in bringing perpetrators to justice.
