Crime & Safety

Steak 'n Shake Killer Gets More Than 120 Years in Prison

Oundre Akins was sentenced Thursday for the two murders at a South County Steak 'n Shake in 2008.

Oundre Akins, convicted March 4 of two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action and one count of first-degree robbery in the Steak ‘n Shake shootings, was sentenced Thursday to over 120 years in prison.

Two Steak ‘n Shake employees, Tammy Cantrell and Mark Gerstner, were killed Nov. 10, 2008, in the early morning robbery.

St. Louis County Judge Richard Bresnahan sentenced 23-year-old Akins to two life sentences, as well as four consecutive 30 year sentences for the robbery and armed criminal action counts, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Thursday.

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Prosecutors waived the death penalty after Akins chose to go before a judge over a jury trial.

His brother, Anthony D. Akins, 24, is scheduled for trial on the same charges in July.

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Anthony Akins faces possible death penalty, after reneging on the morning of Oundre’s trial, on a plea deal from June 2011 in which he agreed to admit to his role and testify against his brother. 

The trial featured a videotaped confession that included Oundre Akins describing how he shot Cantrell and Gerstner. 

During the confession, given about three days after the murders, Oundre said their former workplace. Oundre also said he shot and killed two employees, Tammy Cantrell and Mark Gerstner.

See our previous coverage:

  • Live: Oundre Akins Murder Trial
  • Steak 'n Shake Murder Trial Heads into Second Day; Prosecutors Face Setback
  • Videotaped Confession Shows Oundre Akins Describing Steak 'n Shake Murders
  • Judge Expected to Give Verdict on Steak 'n Shake Murders Today
  • Oundre Akins is Found Guilty on All Six Counts in 2008 Steak 'n Shake Murder Case


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