Cold case victim identified, killed by Daytona Beach serial killer Gerald Stano in the 1980s

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – After 43 years, a 1980 murder victim formerly known as “Jane Doe” has been identified as Pamela Kay Wittman, a 25-year-old woman from Indiana.

Genetic genealogy confirmed that Wittman was murdered by Daytona Beach serial killer Gerald Stano, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood announced Thursday.

Wittman’s remains were discovered on November 5, 1980, along Interstate 95 near Port Orange, Florida.

Her identity remained a mystery for decades and the case was shut down.

According to Sheriff Mike Chitwood, the breakthrough came after FHD Forensics provided genetic genealogy research support with funding from Genealogy for Justice.

After months of investigation, genealogists were able to connect Wittman’s DNA to surviving family members, helping to uncover details about her life before her murder.

“This provides closure for a family that has spent decades wondering what happened to their loved one,” Sheriff Chitwood said. “Although the truth is heartbreaking, I am grateful for the hard work that allowed us to give Pamela the dignity she deserves with a proper memorial.”

A plaque engraved with the statement “She had the voice of an angel” was placed near where Wittman was found.

Wittman’s family traveled to Florida for an emotional reunion with the detectives and analysts who worked on the case.

Her remains were handed over to her younger sister for proper burial.

The case remained unsolved until 2023, when FHD Forensics offered its assistance to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office in investigating unsolved cases involving unidentified remains.

Detectives submitted reference samples from several cases and genealogists ultimately confirmed Wittman’s identity.

DNA samples from Wittman’s family were processed, confirming the match.

Authorities believe Wittman was killed by Stano in late February 1980.

Gerald Stano was arrested in April 1980 after a woman escaped from a hotel room and contacted authorities.

He later confessed that he began killing in 1969 when he killed a woman in New Jersey. He then confessed to killing six women in Pennsylvania before moving to Florida.

Officials say he murdered 30 or more women in Florida, with most of the victims between the ages of 16 and 25.

Santo was executed in a double execution in 1998 alongside notorious serial killer Ted Bundy.