Worried Neighbor Leads Cops To A Murdered Family

Overview of the Discovery

A woman’s 911 call in Orlando, Florida (6:49 a.m., July 18, 2018) prompted police to respond to an apartment where neighbor Nicole reported the front door had been left open and Cynthia Stack appeared dead on a couch.

When officers entered, they found a far more brutal scene:

• Cynthia had been shot in the head.
• Her 22-year-old son, Shawn Stack, had also been murdered.
• One body was found in the bathroom.
• Evidence suggested multiple close-range shootings.

Investigators quickly noted troubling inconsistencies:

• No murder weapon was found.
• There were no signs of forced entry.
• The victims’ cell phones were missing, implying deliberate removal.

Witnesses reported hearing gunshots the night before and observing fleeing activity. Early on, detectives lacked a clear suspect or motive. As the investigation progressed, they concluded the killings were not a random “in-and-out” attack, and that the perpetrators likely knew the family and had planned the assault(s).

The Case Turns: The Money Theft and Bank Access

Investigators determined that Cynthia and Shawn had recently become entangled in a financial scheme involving:

• Gerald Stack, Cynthia and Shawn’s 75-year-old father and a Navy veteran with serious memory problems after a traumatic brain injury.

Shortly before the murders, detectives found a notarized document in Gerald’s home linked to:

• Amelia Bassoon, a Chase personal banker
• Joshua (“Josh”) Rami, Amelia’s husband

Through interrogation, detectives built a timeline suggesting Amelia had:

• withdrawn and manipulated Gerald’s funds,
• attempted to set up money in a way Cynthia later challenged as illegitimate.

Multiple sources conflicted with Amelia’s claims that Gerald’s mental capacity was not impaired. Bank records and coworkers indicated Gerald’s account included warnings about confusion and misunderstandings tied to transactions. Notably, in the days leading up to the murders, Cynthia appeared to be closing in on the fraud—checking trust account activity and questioning missing money with another Chase banker.

Interrogations Reveal a Collapsing Story

At first, Amelia and Josh claimed confusion about why they were being questioned and denied involvement in the murders. Detectives then confronted them with inconsistencies:

• Amelia’s explanations for check handling and why certain accounts were set up did not match bank procedures or coworker accounts.
• Josh’s story about a thrown firearm and a separate incident near the time of the murders shifted repeatedly and grew less credible.
• Both spouses attempted to redirect blame toward each other in ways investigators found increasingly implausible.

Detectives also identified a potential intermediary, “Jay Prasad,” whom Amelia and Josh allegedly discussed paying to “scare” Cynthia. Later, based on Jay’s testimony, the alleged goal expanded to intimidating her after the money disputes.

Jay’s testimony contradicted both spouses in important ways, including describing Amelia’s role in arranging intimidation and the fear/panic that followed.

Evidence Tying the Spouses’ Scheme to the Killings

Investigators presented multiple indicators of calculated preparation beyond the theft:

• A notarization workflow and bank access used to facilitate withdrawals
• Suspected forgery/signature mismatches on cashier checks tied to Gerald’s funds
• Additional suspicious banking documentation found in Josh’s car
• A grinder in Amelia and Josh’s shared garage that appeared altered and contained black powder residue—suggesting it was used for modifying a weapon
• After the murders, Josh reportedly changed his appearance (cutting hair/shaving)
• Witness descriptions of a man near Cynthia’s apartment matched Josh’s general appearance

Jay and other evidence suggested the spouses’ attempt to regain or control the missing money escalated into violence. Investigators also emphasized Cynthia’s behavior: she appeared to be seeking answers and trying to contact security rather than making threats—suggesting the murders likely occurred after she pressed for clarification.

Outcome

• Amelia Bassoon and Josh Rami were arrested.
• Josh was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole for two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm.
• Amelia avoided murder convictions through a cooperation agreement:
  • Sentenced to 3 years in state prison followed by 15 years of probation
  • In exchange for testimony and evidence against Josh

Presenters or Contributors

• Detective Michael Moreshi (referenced in interrogation/document-related questioning)
• Detective Ferrer (interviewing Josh)
• Detective Michael Mash (interviewing Nicole / referencing testimony)
• Nicole (the 911 caller/witness)
• Gerald Stack (victim; referenced via testimony excerpts in the record)
• Cynthia Stack (victim; referenced via messages/timeline excerpts)
• Shawn Stack (victim; referenced via timeline/evidence excerpts)
• Amelia Bassoon (suspect; interrogated)
• Joshua Rami (suspect; interrogated)
• Jay Prasad (informant/witness referenced via interrogation testimony excerpts)
• Gerald’s branch manager / Chase coworkers (referenced through interviews/co-worker accounts)
• Suresh Mike Bassoon (Amelia’s father; points investigators to the grinder)