Rapist-Murderer Sentenced to Death for Killings of Woman and Girl in Florida

Joseph Zieler, 64, convicted of 1990 murders in Cape Coral after DNA evidence linked him to the crimes decades later

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:52pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up photograph of a torn piece of fabric, its fibers and textures dramatically illuminated by a harsh flash against a black backdrop, conceptually representing the physical evidence from a decades-old murder investigation.Decades-old forensic evidence from a cold case murder investigation is brought to light, exposing the grim details of a violent crime.Cape Coral Today

The Florida Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence for Joseph Zieler, 64, who was convicted in May 2023 of the 1990 first-degree murders of a 32-year-old woman and an 11-year-old girl in Cape Coral, Florida. The case went unsolved for over two decades until Zieler's DNA was matched to evidence from the crime scene in 2016 when he was arrested for a separate offense.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges of cold cases and the importance of DNA evidence, even decades after a crime. It also comes amid changes to Florida's death penalty laws, with the state recently reducing the requirement for a unanimous jury to hand down a death sentence.

The details

Zieler was convicted of murdering 32-year-old Lisa Story and 11-year-old Robin Cornell, who were found dead in their condo in 1990. Both victims died by asphyxiation and showed signs of sexual battery and a violent struggle. Despite an abundance of DNA evidence at the crime scene, the case went unsolved for over 20 years until Zieler's DNA was matched to the evidence in 2016 when he was arrested for a separate crime.

  • The murders occurred in 1990 in Cape Coral, Florida.
  • Zieler was convicted of the first-degree murders in May 2023.
  • On April 20, 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law reducing the requirement for a unanimous jury to hand down a death sentence from 12 to 8 jurors.
  • Despite Zieler's appeal, the Florida Supreme Court upheld his conviction and death sentence in 2026.

The players

Joseph Zieler

A 64-year-old man convicted of the 1990 murders of a woman and an 11-year-old girl in Cape Coral, Florida.

Lisa Story

A 32-year-old woman who was murdered in 1990 in Cape Coral, Florida.

Robin Cornell

An 11-year-old girl who was murdered in 1990 in Cape Coral, Florida.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Zieler's execution date has not yet been set by the state of Florida.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the need for continued advancements in forensic science and the persistence of law enforcement in pursuing justice, even in the face of decades-old unsolved crimes. It also raises questions about the evolving death penalty laws in Florida and their impact on the judicial process.