Robert Fry (murderer)
{{short description|American serial killer}}
{{infobox criminal
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|08|18}}
| convictions = First degree murder (4 counts)
First degree kidnapping (2 counts)
First degree attempted criminal sexual penetration
Attempted armed robbery
Tampering with evidence (4 counts)
Intimidation of a witness (2 counts)
Larceny
| penalty = Death; commuted to life imprisonment
| victims = 4
| beginyear = 1996
| endyear = 2000
| states = New Mexico
| birth_place = Farmington, New Mexico, U.S.
| imprisoned = Penitentiary of New Mexico
}}
Robert Fry (born August 18, 1973) is an American serial killer who was sentenced to death for the murder of a woman in 2000. He was also convicted of three additional murders that date back to 1996. In 2019, ten years after New Mexico repealed the death penalty, his death sentence was commuted to life.{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/general-news-9a27b70cfd0f40efad7dd50944939daf|title=New Mexico sets aside final 2 death sentences|last=Lee|first=Morgan|agency=The Associated Press|date=June 28, 2019|accessdate=March 3, 2025}}
==Case details==
Fry, along with Leslie Engh, were initially arrested for the murder of Betty Lee in 2000, who was found bludgeoned and stabbed to death in San Juan County. The two offered Lee a ride after they saw her at a payphone.{{cite web|url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/nm-supreme-court/1412954.html|title=STATE v. FRY (2005)|website=FindLaw}} From there, they killed her after attempting to rape her. Police were able to connect the pair to the murder through DNA evidence as well as shoe imprints and tire tracks.{{cite web|url=https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/state-v-fry-no-890068126|title=State v. Fry|website=Vlex}} Sometime after his arrest, Fry was linked to the murders of Donald Tsosie, Matthew Trecker and Joseph Fleming, the latter two of whom were killed at a store in Farmington.{{cite news|url=https://www.koat.com/article/convicted-murderer-faces-trial-for-more-killings/5019428|title=Convicted Murderer Faces Trial For More Killings|date=January 5, 2005|accessdate=March 3, 2005|agency=KOAT-TV}} In 2002, Fry was convicted of Lee's murder and was sentenced to death. He was also sentenced to life for Tsosie's murder.{{cite news|url=https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/lawyers-plead-for-lives-of-last-2-death-row-prisoners/article_a275f3ab-581d-5421-9bd9-bc5f4119b624.html|title=Lawyers plead for lives of last 2 death row prisoners|last=Haywood|first=Phaedra|agency=The Santa Fe New Mexican|date=April 10, 2018|accessdate=March 3, 2025}} In 2005, Fry received two more life sentences for the murders of Trecker and Fleming. He was additionally convicted of larceny, tampering with evidence and intimidation of a witness in connection with the double murder.{{cite news|url=https://www.koat.com/article/death-row-inmate-found-guilty-of-1996-double-murder/5019599|title=Death Row Inmate Found Guilty Of 1996 Double Murder|date=January 21, 2005|accessdate=March 3, 2005|agency=KOAT-TV}} In 2013, a judge upheld Fry's death sentence.{{cite news|url=
https://www.koat.com/article/robert-fry-will-stay-on-death-row/4401388|title=Robert Fry will stay on death row|agency=KOAT-TV|date=August 8, 2013|accessdate=April 9, 2025}}
Leslie Engh pleaded guilty to two counts of first degree murder and two counts of first degree kidnapping in the deaths of Lee and Tsosie and was sentenced to life in prison.{{Cite web |date=2018-06-14 |title=Bobby Fry Archives |url=https://forensicfilesnow.com/index.php/tag/bobby-fry/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=Forensic Files Now |language=en-US}}
==Subsequent developments==
Despite New Mexico repealing capital punishment in 2009, Robert Fry, along with Timothy Allen remained on death row. However, in June 2019, the New Mexico Supreme Court vacated their death sentences which were then commuted to life without parole.{{cite news|url=https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/new-mexico/2019/06/28/new-mexico-supreme-court-vacates-death-penalties-timothy-allen-robert-fry/1598332001/|title=New Mexico Supreme Court vacates death penalties for Timothy Allen, Robert Fry|last=Lee|first=Morgan|work=The Associates Press|agency=Las Cruses Sun-News|accessdate=March 3, 2025}} Although New Mexico did not have life without parole prior to the abolition of capital punishment in 2009, Fry will spend the rest of his life in prison as his four consecutive life terms render him ineligible for parole for 120 years.{{Cite web |last=Kellogg |first=Joshua |title=Convicted murders have death sentence vacated by NM Supreme Court |url=https://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/crime/2019/06/29/convicted-murders-have-death-sentence-vacated-nm-supreme-court/1601638001/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=Iowa City Press-Citizen |language=en-US}}
==Victims==
Robert Fry killed four people over the span of four years.{{cite news|url=https://www.krqe.com/news/killer-walks-halls-as-execution-stalled/|title=Killer walks halls as execution stalled|last=Barker|first=Larry|date=October 31, 2013|agency=KRQE|accessdate=March 3, 2025}}
- Joseph Fleming, 25 - November 28, 1996, Farmington
- Matthew Trecker, 18 - November 28, 1996, Farmington
- Donald Tsosie, 40 - April, 1998, San Juan County
- Betty Lee, 36 - June, 2000, San Juan County
Fry's accomplice, Leslie Engh, was present for the murders of Tsosie and Lee. He was convicted of first degree murder for their deaths and is currently in prison.{{cite web|url=https://www.cd.nm.gov/offender-search/|title=Offender Information|website=New Mexico Corrections Department}}
==See also==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fry, Robert}}
Category:20th-century American murderers
Category:21st-century American murderers
Category:American people convicted of murder
Category:American people convicted of kidnapping
Category:American people convicted of attempted rape
Category:American people convicted of obstruction of justice
Category:American prisoners sentenced to death
Category:People from Farmington, New Mexico
Category:People convicted of murder by New Mexico