SAN QUENTIN ? A twice-convicted Lake County wife killer who revealed where he buried a third wife almost 30 years ago, may come back to Lake County for trial, according to Lake County District Attorney Jon Hopkins.
Gerald Frank Stanley, 64, asked for time to consult with his lawyers so he could decide if he would agree to have the case come back to Lake County.
On Oct. 6, a Butte County judge intends to rule on the issue.
The murder trial was moved to Butte County on a change of venue because of pretrial publicity.
In order to have the case heard in Lake County, either a rule of the court to transfer the case for post-conviction proceedings must occur or a penal code provision for a change of venue must occur.
“Lake County has almost doubled in population since the crime in 1980,” Hopkins said. “Many people have no idea who he is.”
Residents of Lake County in the 1980s might remember Stanley as a hunting guide who carried out a sniper-style killing of his fourth wife while on parole for the murder of his second wife in 1981.
Hopkins said that Lake County has a greater interest in the case, because it occurred in Lake County.
Stanley has been on death row for more than 25 years and he says he wants to die.
The pending hearing is called a retrospective competency hearing and Hopkins says it”s something that “hasn”t happened very often at all.”
Mandy Feder may be reached at mfeder@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636 ext.32.
