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Jury: Former Blake High Custodian Guilty Of Murder

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By TOM BRENNAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 19, 2009

TAMPA - A former Blake High School custodian faces up to life imprisonment after a jury convicted him today of murdering his ex-girlfriend in October 2007.

Jurors took about two hours to find Stanley "Larry" Telfare guilty of second-degree murder and false imprisonment.

Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Anthony Black didn't schedule a sentencing date for Telfare, 47, in order to allow time for a presentence report to be compiled.

Elalia Walker died from massive head and other injuries she suffered when she jumped from her speeding van as Telfare drove it through a juice plant off Harney Road on Oct. 13, 2007.

Prosecutors said Walker jumped to get away from Telfare, who had abducted her from the high school's parking garage and beaten her unconscious only minutes before. Walker was a secretary at the school.

"He scared her so much that she felt it was in her best interest to jump from a van going 55 to 60 mph rather than staying with this man," Assistant State Attorney Chinwe Fossett said in her closing argument.

Telfare didn't get immediate medical attention for Walker, whose injuries left a 38-foot blood trail. Walker died after being in a coma for a week.

Witnesses testified Telfare was enraged because Walker broke off their affair.

Telfare didn't testify in his trial. His attorney, Nick Sinardi, said Walker was upset with his client because Telfare wouldn't have sex with her that night.

Prosecutors had asked for Telfare to be convicted of kidnapping and first-degree murder, but jurors returned a verdict on the lesser charges.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tbrennan@tampatrib.com.

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