Murder at the Lil’ Champ – The Terry Paquette Case
Published by Crime Clueless Podcast
In 1996, 31-year-old Terry Paquette showed up to work at the Lil’ Champ convenience store in Orlando, Florida, just like he always did. It was early. The store hadn’t opened yet. His shift started in silence, with no customers—just coffee machines, harsh fluorescent lights, and the promise of another quiet morning.
Instead, he was stabbed 73 times. Left for dead in a pool of blood on the bathroom floor. His throat was slashed. His wallet and car were gone. His murder scene? Absolutely brutal.
And for 26 years, the killer walked free.
The Crime Scene
The bathroom where Terry was found was a horror show. Blood splatter covered the floor and walls. One of the stall doors was ripped off its hinges. Whoever did this wasn’t in a hurry—and it wasn’t random. It looked personal. Angry. And yet… the case went cold.
Despite DNA left at the scene—blood that didn’t belong to Terry—investigators had no matches. And without leads, the case sat. For decades.
The Breakthrough
Fast-forward to 2022, and forensic technology finally caught up with the evidence. Investigators decided to try something new: genetic genealogy. By submitting the unknown DNA to a public database, they were able to build a family tree—and eventually landed on Kenneth Stough Jr., a man living just miles away.
To confirm it, detectives did what they do best: followed him. And when they retrieved a beer can and cigarette butt from his trash, the DNA was a match.
Yes, you read that right. After 26 years, beer cans solved the case.
The Trial & Justice (Finally)
In 2023, Stough stood trial and was convicted of first-degree murder. The evidence was overwhelming. DNA. Timeline. Motive. He’d worked at the same store before. He knew Terry. And for years, he blended in—like he hadn’t left one of the most gruesome crime scenes Orlando had ever seen.
He was sentenced to life in prison. No parole. No chance to disappear back into the shadows again.
Why This Case Still Hits Hard
Terry Paquette wasn’t famous. He wasn’t rich. He didn’t have a Netflix documentary or a media frenzy behind his name. He was a regular guy working a regular job—someone who deserved to grow old, go home, and not die on a grimy bathroom floor.
This episode isn’t just about a murder solved. It’s about the years in between—the silence, the missed chances, the slow-moving wheels of justice. And the hope that maybe, just maybe, technology and persistence will bring answers for other victims like Terry, too.
🎧 Listen Now:
Murder at the Lil’ Champ – The Terry Paquette Case
Streaming wherever you get your podcasts. Warning: this one might leave you equal parts furious and relieved.
🧬 Justice Took Decades—But It Finally Came
The 1996 murder of Terry Paquette wasn’t unsolvable. It was just… delayed. For years. His killer left DNA. He left blood. He left behind beer cans. And still, no arrest—until the science (and a good trash pickup) finally caught up.
Here’s where to learn more about Terry’s case, the investigation that finally worked, and the justice that arrived far too late.
🔗 Resources at a Glance:
NBC: Florida Man Convicted by Beer Can DNA in 1996 Cold Case
🎧 Listen to the episode now:
Murder at the Lil’ Champ – The Terry Paquette Case
Streaming on all podcast platforms. Share it, rate it, and maybe check your recycling bin.
Have thoughts on Terry’s story or other cases you’d like to see highlighted? Share them with us in the comments or connect with us on social media. Together, we can ensure that stories like Terry’s are never forgotten.
Don’t forget to follow us on social media, share your thoughts, and let us know what you’d like to hear about in future episodes. If you have any true crime stories of your own, send them our way crimeclueless@gmail.com to be featured on a future episode! And as always, remember: refuse to be clueless, careless, or caught off guard. Not today, murderers.
See you in the next episode of Crime Clueless!
🗂️ Terry Paquette Case – Research & Resources
📰 News Articles & Case Coverage
WFTV – Discarded Beer Cans Lead to Arrest in 1996 Cold Case Murder
Details how DNA from discarded beer cans led to the arrest of Kenneth Stough Jr. in connection with Paquette's murder.Inside Lake – Eustis Man Convicted in Orange County ’96 Cold Case Murder Solved Using Genetic Genealogy
Provides an in-depth look at the use of genetic genealogy to solve the case and the subsequent conviction of Stough.Law & Crime – Investigators Cracked 1996 Cold Case Murder Thanks to Beer Cans
Explores the investigative techniques that led to identifying the suspect through DNA evidence on beer cans.DNA Solves – After 25 Years, Terrence Paquette's Killer is Arrested
Discusses the role of advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy in solving the case.Orlando-News – Life in Prison for Man Who Stabbed Store Clerk 73 Times
Covers the trial and sentencing of Kenneth Stough Jr., who received a life sentence for the murder.
🎧 Podcasts & Video Coverage
Behind the Star – Episode 54: Cold Case: The Lil' Champ Murder
A podcast episode by the Orange County Sheriff's Office discussing the case and the breakthrough that led to its resolution.Orange County Sheriff's Office – Sheriff Mina Update on 1996 Cold Case Murder
A video update from Sheriff John Mina providing details on the investigation and arrest.
📚 Case Files & Analysis
NBC Los Angeles – Florida Man Linked to 1996 Cold Case by Beer Cans is Convicted
Summarizes the case and the evidence that led to the conviction.Police1 – Fla. Cold Case from 1996 Solved with Beer Cans and DNA Evidence
Discusses the investigative process and the significance of solving the cold case.
📢 Victim Advocacy & Cold Case Support
10. National Center for Victims of Crime
Support, resources, and victim advocacy efforts, especially for families waiting for justice.
Project: Cold Case
A nonprofit that provides visibility to unsolved murders and cold cases nationwide—including Terry’s.
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