Robert Anderson (murderer)
{{Short description|American murderer (1966–2006)}}
{{Distinguish|text=Robert Leroy Anderson, a self-proclaimed serial killer based in South Dakota}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2012}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Robert Anderson
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1966|05|29}}
| birth_name = Robert James Anderson
| alias =
| birth_place = Great Lakes, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2006|07|20|1966|05|29}}
| death_place = Huntsville Unit, Huntsville, Texas, U.S.
| death_cause = Execution by lethal injection
| body_discovered =
| education =
| occupation =
| spouse =
| partner =
| known_for = Murder and rape of a five-year-old girl
}}
Robert James Anderson (May 29, 1966 – July 20, 2006) was an American criminal convicted and executed for the rape and murder of a five-year-old girl. He was born in Great Lakes, Illinois.
Crimes
Anderson kidnapped and murdered five-year-old Audra Ann Reeves, in Amarillo, Texas on June 9, 1992. Anderson told police that he kidnapped Reeves as she was returning home from playing in a park. He then took her into his house and proceeded to rape her. He beat, stabbed, and drowned Reeves, then stored her body in a styrofoam ice chest. He then rolled the ice chest to a dumpster. Her body was found later that day by a neighbor throwing out trash.{{Cite web |title=Robert James Anderson #1034 |url=http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/US/anderson1034.htm |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=www.clarkprosecutor.org}} Anderson was identified as the person who discarded the chest, was apprehended by police, and confessed almost immediately.
Anderson said he committed the crime after a dispute with his wife of eight months. The Associated Press quoted Anderson as saying, "The whole day revolved around the fight. She stormed out of the house and said when she returned she didn't want to find me."{{cite news |title=Killer of 5-year-old Amarillo girl volunteering to die Thursday |first=Michael |last=Graczyk |url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8IVIVJ86.html |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=San Antonio Express-News |date=July 20, 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929104500/http://www.mysanantonio.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8IVIVJ86.html |archivedate=September 29, 2007 |url-status=dead |accessdate=December 24, 2012}}
At his trial, Anderson requested to the presiding judge, Clinton Averitte, saying "Sir, this may sound callous ... I don't want to hurt anybody any longer, and I want to be executed."{{Cite web |date=2004-10-29 |title=5-year-old girl's killer asks judge for execution |url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/5-year-old-girl-s-killer-asks-judge-for-execution-1959822.php |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=Chron |language=en}}
Execution
Anderson was sentenced to death and was executed by lethal injection in Texas on July 20, 2006, at the Huntsville Unit. He is buried at Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery.
See also
Footnotes
{{Reflist}}
References
- [http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/death_row/dr_info/andersonrobert.jpg Offender Information]. Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on 2013-07-11.
- [http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/death_row/dr_info/andersonrobertlast.html Last Statement]. Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on 2013-07-11.
- [http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/US/anderson1034.htm Robert James Anderson]. The Clark County Prosecuting Attorney. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Robert}}
Category:1992 murders in the United States
Category:21st-century executions by Texas
Category:21st-century executions of American people
Category:American murderers of children
Category:American people convicted of child sexual abuse
Category:American people executed for murder
Category:Executed people from Illinois
Category:People convicted of murder by Texas