Scotty Ray Gardner sits on Arkansas’ death row, convicted of the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Susan Heather Stubbs. His violent history and repeated offenses ultimately led to his death sentence, marking him as a dangerous repeat offender.
The Murder of Susan Heather Stubbs
On March 6, 2016, police found 41-year-old Susan Heather Stubbs facedown in a room at the Days Inn on Oak Street in Conway, Arkansas. Investigators quickly determined that she had been strangled to death.
Gardner, 57 at the time, admitted to authorities that he and Stubbs had been fighting. In a fit of rage, he grabbed a nearby cord, wrapped it around her neck, and strangled her. After killing her, he took her money and phone before driving a stolen truck to Hot Springs, where he spent the night gambling.
The evidence against Gardner was overwhelming. A police affidavit detailed his confession, and surveillance footage placed him at the crime scene and later at a casino in Hot Springs. The jury needed little time to reach a verdict, convicting him of capital murder and sentencing him to death by lethal injection.
A History of Violence
Gardner’s conviction was not his first encounter with the law. In fact, by the time he murdered Stubbs, he had already spent over two decades in prison for previous violent crimes.
In 1991, he was convicted of first-degree battery, second-degree escape, and attempted first-degree murder. His victim? His own wife. Gardner served 23 years in the Arkansas prison system before being released on parole in 2014.
Before that, he had already been incarcerated once, serving time from 1986 to 1989. His pattern of violence and disregard for the law made him a clear danger to those around him.
Ignored Warnings and Missed Opportunities
Stubbs’ murder could have been prevented. In January 2016, just months before her death, she sought an order of protection against Gardner. She had reported to police that he had been verbally and physically abusive. However, when the court date arrived on February 9, 2016, Stubbs failed to appear, and the petition was dismissed.
Less than a month later, she was dead.
This tragic turn of events highlights the dangers of domestic violence and the importance of taking protective measures seriously. Many victims, out of fear or hope that their abuser will change, withdraw from legal proceedings—often with devastating consequences.
The Trial and Sentencing
During Gardner’s trial, prosecutors painted a picture of a man who had a long history of violence, showing no remorse for his actions. They emphasized the cold-blooded nature of the murder—how he strangled Stubbs, stole from her, and then gambled with the stolen money.
The jury took only about an hour to sentence him to death, a decision influenced by both the brutality of the crime and his violent past. Under Arkansas law, capital murder is punishable by either life without parole or the death penalty. Given his history, the jury saw no reason to spare him.
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Life on Death Row
Gardner now spends his days in solitary confinement, awaiting his execution. While he has appealed his sentence, the likelihood of success remains slim due to the overwhelming evidence against him.
Arkansas has carried out executions in recent years, but legal challenges have slowed the process. Until the courts rule on his final appeals, Gardner remains in a high-security prison, reflecting on the choices that led him there.
A Case That Echoes a Larger Issue
Gardner’s case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of domestic violence and the failures of the system to protect victims. Despite his history, he was granted parole, and despite warnings, Stubbs’ cry for help went unheard.
His story is not just about a single crime—it’s about a cycle of violence that could have been stopped long before it ended in murder. Unfortunately, for Susan Heather Stubbs, justice came too late.
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.
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