Execution of Stanley Adams Rescheduled in Ohio

Stanley Adams, Ohio

Updated: Monday, February 14, 2022

Stanley Theodore Adams was scheduled to be executed on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Mansfield, Ohio. His execution has been rescheduled to February 19, 2025. Fifty-five-year-old Stanley is convicted of murdering 43-year-old Esther Cook and 12-year-old daughter, Ashley in Warren, Ohio. Stanley has been on death row in Ohio for the last 20 years.

Stanley had an unfortunate childhood. His father was extremely abusive, both physically and sexually. Stanley was eventually placed in the foster system and resided in numerous foster homes. He often did not receive care or nurturing from a loving family. Stanley developed a substance abuse problem. He did not have a steady job as an adult.

From Christmas 1998, until March 1999, Stanley Adams was living with Esther Cook, and her daughter Ashley in their home in Warren, Ohio.

On the evening of October 11, 1999, Adams went out partying and took some drugs. Adams told another party-goer that he was out of money and left “to get some more money.” By the time the other party goer left, at 11:15 pm, Adams had not returned.

That same night, a neighbor who lived across from Esther and Ashley noticed a car pull into their driveway. The taillights reminder the neighbor of a Chevrolet Cavalier she had once owned. Later that night, the neighbor also notices that the neighborhood dogs were barking in an unusually “loud and obnoxious” manner.

When Adams returned to the party, a different party goer noted that he “had blood all over his hands;…on his shirt, on his pants, and on the tips of the shoes.” Some of the blood appeared to be wet. Adams also had money in his pocket that was covered in blood. At some point, Adams removed his blood-soaked shirt.

Adams again left the party during the early morning hours of October 12, 1999, along with two others. They were attempting to get more drugs. Adams was driving a blue Cavalier, which was pulled over by the police because it only had one headlight. With the weather being cold, the police officer noted that Adams was not wearing a shirt. The police officer further noticed that Adams had blood on his pants, including one large spot.

A second police officer stopped to help with the traffic stop and frisked Adams, discovering “his pants were all wet and sticky.” Adams claimed he had cut his hand, but police found no evidence of a cut. Using a flashlight, the police found more blood on his hands, arms, and pants, noting that it looked like Adams had “field dressed a deer.”

Around noon on October 12, 1999, Esther’s friend Donna stopped by the house. Donna discovered Esther’s cold body inside the front door. She immediately called the police. Esther and Ashley had last been seen by a neighbor at 5:30 pm the previous day.

When police entered the home, Esther was found lying in a pool of blood at the bottom of the stairs. Ashley was discovered upstairs in a bedroom. Esther died from blunt force trauma. Ashley had been raped, strangled, and beaten to death. DNA evidence showed it likely that Adams was the one who raped Ashely.

Adams was quickly identified as a suspect and the car he had been driving was tested. Blood was found in several places. During a police interview, Adams claimed he had gone to the Cook’s house to rob and discovered Esther and Ashley already dead. Adams did confess to burning his bloody clothing.

Adams was charged, tried, and convicted on murder, rape, and burglary charges. He was convicted and sentenced to death.

Adams is also convicted of raping and murdering 40-year-old Roslyn Taylor on August 6, 1999. Adams received a sentence of 25 years to life in prison for that crime.

For the last several years, Ohio has struggled to obtain execution drugs and decide upon which drugs to use for executions.  This has resulted in an unofficial moratorium on executions in the state.  Read more about the challenges Ohio has been facing regarding executions in the state here.  Therefore, since Ohio schedules executions years in advance, execution dates are rescheduled.  Stanley Adams’s execution is rescheduled to February 19, 2025.

Pray for peace and healing for the family of Esther and Ashely Cook.  Pray for strength for the family of Stanley Adams.  Please pray that if Stanley is innocent, lacks the competency to be executed, or should not be executed for any other reason, evidence will be provided before his execution.  Pray that Stanley may come to find peace through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

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