Slaying Suspect Nabbed In Ga.

An ex-convict who collaborated with two professors on a book about life behind bars and vowed never to go back to prison was captured in Georgia on Tuesday after being accused of two slayings.

Stephen Stanko, 37, was arrested in a shopping center parking lot in Augusta, Ga., a day after authorities launched a nationwide manhunt, police said. Authorities had been tipped that a truck they believed Stanko was driving had been seen in the lot.

Stanko, who had just eaten lunch, was unarmed and was taken into custody without incident, Horry County Police spokesman Andy Christenson said. He was wearing a suit and tie.

"He did not look dangerous at all," said Marcie Crown, manager of the Atlanta Bread Co. restaurant where Stanko ate. "It's very freaky."

Earlier Tuesday, federal investigators had offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture.

Stanko is suspected of killing Laura Ling, 43, a librarian who lived with him outside Myrtle Beach, and Henry Lee Turner, 74.

Ling's body was discovered Friday after a teenage girl in the home called authorities and said she had been raped by Stanko, police said. Turner was found shot to death in his home on Saturday.

Stanko was released from prison nearly a year ago after serving most of a 10-year sentence for kidnapping. While in prison, he co-wrote a book titled "Living in Prison: A History of the Correctional System With an Insider's View" with the help of two criminology professors.

Stanko wrote about the hardships of prison life and the fear of being labeled "a convicted felon" after his release. "What I fear most now is that I may carry some of this total institution back into society with me," he wrote.

Authorities said Stanko met Ling and Turner at the library where the ex-convict said he was researching a book.

A week ago, Stanko was fired after working for a month as a salesman for Stucco Supply in Myrtle Beach. Jeff Kendall, general manager, said Stanko was unreliable and brought in few sales.