Richard Stoner: Virginia hitman who killed woman, her 7-year-old son and family dog faces four life sentences
VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA: A Virginia man who murdered a 29-year-old woman and her 7-year-old son nearly two decades ago faces four life sentences in the murder-for-hire attack which was allegedly planned by the slain woman's estranged husband. On Monday, May 1, Circuit Judge Steven Frucci ordered a maximum penalty of four sentences for Richard Eugene Stoner without the possibility of parole.
"These actions were so evil and so egregious and the loss so incalculable. I’ve never seen anything as bad, as evil, and as disgusting as these actions were, Stoner," said Frucci. Along with an additional 63 years to the sentences, the hitman was charged with the killings of Lois Schmidt and her child Jonathan Vetrano in 2004 where their family dog was also murdered, reported Law and Crime.
READ MORE
Anthony Todt: ‘Disney Dad’ found guilty of murdering his family and dog in Florida home
What are the charges against Stoner?
In February 2023, Stoner pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including four counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, torture/mutilating a dog causing death, two counts of first-degree murder, burglar, aggravated malicious wounding, arson of an occupied dwelling, conspiracy, and aggravated murder, as per the Virginia Beach Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.
Christopher Schmidt, estranged husband of the slain woman, paid Stoner $10,000 during the couple's custody battle over their infant daughter and amid a "highly contentious" divorce. The murderer was married to Christopher's first cousin at the time.
Stoner's murder-for-hire attack
On June 28, 2004, the hitman drove to Virginia Beach to Lois' home and ensured she was the only person at the place. He tripped the circuit breaker and lured the woman into the garage as per the plan provided by Christopher.
Along with her 7-year-old son, she entered the garage. "As he was stopped trying to figure out what to do, a dog came out. This surprised him as Schmidt had told him there were no dogs in the house. Stoner shot the dog, who later died. Lois screamed," as per the Stipulation of Facts. "Stoner shot her in the chest as she was standing near the front door. Jonathan was now on the couch witnessing what had just happened to his mother and dog."
According to the document, "Stoner came out of the bedroom and shot Lois in the head to confirm she was dead. Jonathan was still seated on the couch. He told Jonathan to run, but Jonathan just sat there as if in shock. Stoner grabbed his bags from the garage and brought them into the house. He again told Jonathan to get out of the house. Jonathan still did not move."
"Jonathan looked at his mother’s lifeless body on the floor in the foyer and then at Stoner. Stoner determined that Jonathan, having seen what he saw, was going to be ‘messed up for the rest of his life’, so Stoner shot him point blank in the head, killing him instantly," read the document.