Summary of Offense:
Genghis Kocaker was convicted of first-degree murder in the killing of Eric J. Stanton, 26.
Stanton's body was found September 1, 2004, in his cab, which was parked in the parking lot of the Eckerd Drug store at 1605 Missouri Ave. S. Authorities were alerted to the cab by an anonymous man who called 911 and said someone was dead inside a taxi at the store.
The killer had stabbed Stanton and cut his throat, then bound him with a seat belt, put him in the taxi's trunk and set the car on fire. Stanton was able to push his way into the cab of the taxi. He died from smoke inhalation, though an autopsy showed the stab wounds contributed to his death.
Kocaker was sentenced to death in Pinellas County on December 19, 2009.
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