A nationwide manhunt is still underway for Stevie Stephens, the man who murdered a random man and posted the chilling video on Facebook. The family of the victim, a devout Christian, has publicly forgiven the killer as an expression of faith.
Last Sunday, Stephens posted a chilling video of him committing a murder. In the video, Stephens is seen driving up to 74-year-old Robert Godwin on a street in Cleveland, Ohio. Stephens pulled out a gun, and asked him, “Can you say Joy Lane?”
Mr Godwin repeated,”Joy Lane.”
Stephens then shot Godwin in the head before driving away. He then boasted that he had killed 14 others and would continue his murderous spree until the police caught him, but police have reported no other related killings.
Stephens posted the video on Facebook on Sunday around 4pm, calling it “an Easter day slaughter”, but Facebook removed the video a few hours later. Stephens, a children mental health worker, reportedly snapped after ending a relationship and losing all his money from gambling.
Frank Jackson, mayor of Cleveland, announced on Monday afternoon that a $50,000 reward was being offered by the FBI and police for information leading to the arrest of Steve Stephens, 37. Stephens is believed to be driving a white Ford Fusion with the temporary Ohio tag E363630. Stephens can be seen getting out of a white car in the video.
AGGRAVATED MURDER WARRANT ISSUED FOR STEVE STEPHENS, BM 37 https://t.co/gvJpqaCOPb pic.twitter.com/v8Jkcmb4cy
— Cleveland Police (@CLEpolice) April 17, 2017
Godwin, father of ten, was a devout Christian and was killed while walking home from the Easter meal with his family.
This is me and my dad on Father’s Day 2015. #RobertGodwinSr RIP. pic.twitter.com/B2X0suE4AR
— MinisteringLove (@Repairerofthebr) April 17, 2017
His family released a message to the killer via the press:
“To the young man who murdered my daddy, I ask that you please surrender. I forgive you, and love you but most importantly, God loves you. God can heal your mind and save your soul. PLEASE!”
In an interview with CNN, the family forgave their father’s killer as an expression of the Christian faith they learned from their father.
