United States of America
ABLES
Tony Alvin
Active in 1970 and from 1983-1990, in St. Petersburg, Florida
DID YOU KNOW...
Mental Health Fact
If not for mental health and other problems, Ables would have received the death penalty
Interesting Fact
Ables' murders spanned 3 decades
Weird Fact
Ables' murders run in an almost straight line
THE DISPATCH
The Beginning
DNA technology has caught up to murderer Tony Alvin Ables. Ables has been convicted of 2 murders, and charges for another are pending. Ables (sometimes referred to as “Abless” in newspaper articles) is not being charged with a 4th murder, despite DNA evidence.
The Murders
Death During Robbery
- December 11, 1970
- Florida
On December 11, 1970, Ables killed a man during a robbery. Ables was just 16 years old. He pled guilty on March 1, 1971. He was sentenced to life in prison. Ables was released on parole in 1983.
This information cannot currently be located in media, but appears on his public prison record.
Adeline McLaughlin
- June 25, 1983
- St. Petersburg, Florida
Eight-four-year-old Adeline McLaughlin was found murdered in her home on June 25, 1983. She had been sexually assaulted and smothered with a pillow. Ables broke into her home through a first floor window, killed McLaughlin and burglarized the home. He won’t be charged for more than 20 years.
Deborah Virginia Kisor
- February 14, 1987
- St. Petersburg, Florida
Deborah Virginia Kisor, 31, was involved with Ables. She was assaulted and strangled on Valentine’s Day, 1987. He dumped her partially nude body in some woods near Roser Park. She had been sexually assaulted. Kisor had been living at a residence for people with mental illness. Ables was not immediately linked to the crime.
Marlene Burns & Ables' Arrest
- June 4, 1990
- St. Petersburg, Florida
On June 4, 1990, Ables murdered his girlfriend, Marlene Burns, in their Grove Street, St. Petersburg apartment. The couple had been drinking and arguing all day. When Burns went to another apartment in the complex, Ables found her and threw her down the stairs.
But he was not done with Burns. After throwing her down the stairs, he beat, kicked and stomped her to death. She had 29 rib fractures. Ables was immediately arrested and charged 2 days later. Burns was 48.
Conviction & More Charges
Ables Found Guilty
- January 30, 1992
- Largo, Florida
Ables was convicted of murdering Burns on January 30, 1992. The jury recommends the death sentence. Juries can only make recommendations. A judge must review the recommendation, and either accept it or substitute another.
Ables Sentenced to Life
- May 11, 1992
- Largo, Florida
On May 11, 1992, Circuit Judge Bob Barker overrides the jury recommendation, and changes Ables’s sentence to life. He said Ables’ mental health and other problems outweigh the aggravating factors that would otherwise result in the death penalty.
Police Announce 2 More Murders Connected
- December 6, 2006
- St. Petersburg, Florida
On December 6, 2006, police announced then 51-year-old Ables was suspected in the murders of 2 more people. Advances in DNA technology connected Ables to the murders of McLaughlin and Kisor.
Ables Booked for McLaughlin's Murder
- March 16, 2011
- Miami, Florida
Ables was officially booked in McLaughlin’s murder on March 16, 2011. Charges in the McLaughlin murder have not proceeded.
Ables’ Location
Tony Alvin Ables will not be tried for Kisor’s murder. Because they were romantically involved, prosecutors said it’s “too complicated” to proceed. As of 2021, charges in the McLaughlin murder have not proceeded, although Ables is “detained” in her death. This means that should he be eligible for release from the life sentence for Burns, he will be detained (held) pending additional charges.
SIMILAR SERIAL KILLERS
Donald Gene Miller
Miller was born on the same day and year as Ables
Wang Qiang
Wang's mother also abandoned his family at an early age
Gary Ray Bowles
Bowles also murdered his victims for revenge, and robbery
THE STATS
Killer in a Historical Timeline
Statistical table for Tony Alvin Ables
| Killer Name | Ables, Tony Alvin |
| Killer AKA | Thadaisus Gordon, James Selvey, Michael Jones |
| Gender | M |
| Arrest Date | June 4, 1990 |
| Conviction Date | January 30, 1992 |
| Sentence | Life term |
| Birth Date | December 28, 1954 |
| Status | Alive or Unknown |
| Height | 171 |
| Sexual Preference | Straight |
| Killer Type | Criminal Enterprise (drugs/robbery), Revenge, Sexual/Sadistic, Territorial |
| Total Dead Victims | 4 |
| Victims (Suspected) | 1 |
| Victims (Convicted) | 2 |
| Victims (Misc) | 1 charges pending |
| Victim Gender | Various |
| Victim Race | Black, White |
| Victim Age | 84, 31, 48 |
| Victim Type | Robbery victims |
| Victim Type 2 | Romantic partners |
| Method of Killing | suffocation, shooting, strangulation, beating |
| Weapon | gun |
| Robbery | Yes |
| Sex Assault | Yes |
| Overkill | Yes |
| Body - Left, Not Hidden | Yes |
Killer Rating
RESOURCES
- Tampa Bay Times Part 1 (June 27, 1983)
- Tampa Bay Times Part 2 (June 27, 1983)
- Tampa Bay Times (Feb 15, 1987)
- Tampa Bay Times (Feb 28, 1987)
- Tampa Bay Times (Jun 06, 1990)
- Tampa Tribune (Jun 06, 1990)
- The Tampa Tribune (May 12, 1992)
- Tampa Bay Times (December 6, 2006)
- The Orlando Sentinel (Dec 7, 2006)
- Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Subject Charge Report
- Corrections Offender Network, Florida Department of Corrections
E. Kelly Hemingway | Last updated August 18, 2021