Gerald Schaefer appeared to be the perfect candidate for the ultimate punishment – a chilling prospect for those who knew the darkness he harbored. Saved from Old Sparky only by a temporary stay of executions from the Supreme Court, his life took a brutal turn decades later, ending with a knife wound sustained during a prison altercation.
Schaefer wasn’t simply a criminal; he was the “Killer Cop,” the “Hangman,” and the “Butcher of Blind Creek,” convicted of the horrific 1972 mutilation murders of two teenage girls. Investigators long suspected his crimes extended far beyond those two cases, potentially reaching a staggering 26 victims across Florida.
A prosecutor who encountered Schaefer described him as the most profoundly disturbed individual he’d ever faced. His life sentence, however, was shockingly cut short, betrayed by a fellow inmate in a calculated act of violence.
But Schaefer wasn’t alone among law enforcement officers who descended into darkness. Florida also knew Manuel “Manny” Pardo, a former officer with a seemingly promising career derailed by a series of devastating choices.
Pardo began as a decorated Marine, then excelled at the police academy, graduating at the top of his class. Yet, his early career was marred by dishonesty, leading to his dismissal from both the Sweetwater service and the Florida Highway Patrol for falsifying traffic tickets.
The 1980s in South Florida were a chaotic battleground for “cocaine cowboys,” and Pardo quickly found himself immersed in the violent drug trade. This transition marked a turning point, leading him down a path of ruthless murder.
In January 1986, Pardo committed his first murders, executing Mario Amador and Roberto Alonso during a drug heist with a .22 caliber Ruger pistol. The same month, he silenced Michael Millot, a Haitian activist, believing him to be an informant.
The killings continued with chilling efficiency. Luis Robledo and Ulpiano Ledo were murdered during a home invasion, and Fara Quintero and Sara Musa were killed over a trivial dispute involving a pawned ring and a refused purchase. Pardo even claimed Quintero had cursed him with Santeria, fueling his paranoia.
Ramon Alvero’s repeated failures in drug deals sealed his fate, along with his companion, Daisy Ricard, both victims of Pardo’s cold-blooded violence. A subsequent shootout left Pardo wounded, leading to his capture in a New York hospital.
A search of Pardo’s home revealed a disturbing collection of evidence: meticulous records detailing his murders, and a trove of Nazi memorabilia. Prosecutors portrayed him as a deeply prejudiced individual, harboring admiration for Adolf Hitler and contempt for Jews and Black people.
Facing the death penalty, Pardo displayed a chilling detachment. He shockingly requested execution, proclaiming himself a “soldier” who had “accomplished his mission.” His words revealed a disturbing lack of remorse and a perverse desire for a “glorious ending.”
Twenty-four years later, Pardo received his wish. But even on death row, his manipulative nature persisted. He became known as the “Death Row Romeo,” running flowery personal ads targeting lonely women, ultimately defrauding around 26 of them out of over $3,500.
His final meal was a lavish spread of Cuban delicacies, a last indulgence before his execution on December 11, 2012. A lethal injection brought an end to his reign of terror.
“I spent over 19 years in homicide, and this one always sticks out,” recalled retired detective John Allickson, haunted by the case’s chilling nature. A former prosecutor added that Pardo was “very cold,” capable of committing horrific acts and then returning home to sleep peacefully.
The legacy of Manny Pardo extends beyond his crimes. His daughter, Monique Pardo Pope, is now a prominent figure in Miami Beach politics, running for a seat on the City Commission. She openly acknowledges her father’s actions and the profound impact they had on her life, stating she “lost her father as a result” of his terrible deeds.
