Stephanie Michele Colson Hawkins, 21, was abducted at gunpoint from a shopping mall parking lot in the Tampa area on October 6, 1978, while working as a sunglasses salesperson. She was taken to Pasco County, where she was murdered.

Her killing was later tied to Buddy Earl Justus, who was arrested on October 11, 1978. Justus was convicted in multiple murders across states and received death sentences in more than one jurisdiction; he was executed in Virginia in 1990 for the rape and murder of a pregnant nurse. Reports say he admitted to crimes and attributed some behavior to drug use and a troubled past.

Stephanie’s family and the community were deeply affected by her death. Does anyone have memories of Stephanie or information about her life in Tampa in 1978 that could add to the record?