Robert Dale Henderson (March 14, 1945
[ ] – April 21, 1993) was an American
spree killer
A spree killer is someone who commits a criminal act that involves two or more murders or homicides in a short time, in multiple locations. The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics defines a spree killing as "killings at two or more locations w ...
.
He murdered at least twelve victims.
Early life
Henderson was born in Missouri, the son of Mary and Robert Henderson.
At the age of fifteen, he lived in
Park Hills, Missouri.
The Henderson family then moved to
Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Poplar Bluff is a medium city in Butler County in Southeast Missouri, United States. It is the county seat of Butler County and is known as "The Gateway to the Ozarks" among other names. The population was 16,225 at the 2020 census. The Poplar B ...
, after which his parents soon divorced.
[ ] He attended high school somewhere in Missouri, dropping out in 1962.
After dropping out, Henderson served in the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, ...
.
He had duties in
Fort Polk South, Louisiana
Fort Polk South is a census-designated place (CDP) in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 11,000 at the 2000 census.
Fort Polk South is the larger principal city of the Fort Polk South-DeRidder CSA, a Combined Statistic ...
, followed by a stint in Korea.
Henderson was discharged on May 14, 1964, for attacking an officer.
After being discharged, he worked numerous jobs.
In the 1970s, Henderson's residence was raided as part of an investigation into a suspected
marijuana
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant. Native to Central or South Asia, the cannabis plant has been used as a drug for both recreational and entheogenic purposes and in various t ...
ring.
He also had stolen a driver's license in
Brevard County, Florida
Brevard County ( ) is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 606,612, making it the 10th-most populated county in Florida. The official county seat is located in ...
.
In 1977, Henderson committed a robbery in
Laramie, Wyoming
Laramie is a city in and the county seat of Albany County, Wyoming, United States. The population was estimated 32,711 in 2019, making it the third-largest city in Wyoming after Cheyenne and Casper. Located on the Laramie River in southeaster ...
, for which he was sent to the
Wyoming State Penitentiary
The Wyoming State Penitentiary is a historic and current prison in Rawlins, Carbon County, Wyoming, which has operated from 1901. It moved within Rawlins to a new location in 1981. In 2018, it is a Wyoming Department of Corrections state maximu ...
in October 1978.
He was later incarcerated in
Robertson, Wyoming
Robertson is a census-designated place (CDP) in Uinta County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 97 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Robertson is located at (41.190095, -110.429333).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP h ...
.
Henderson was released in July 1981, moving into the home of tobacco farmer Ivan Barnett, his new wife's father.
Murders
On January 14, 1982, he kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered
beautician
Cosmetology (from Greek , ''kosmētikos'', "beautifying"; and , ''-logia'') is the study and application of beauty treatment. Branches of specialty include hairstyling, skin care, cosmetics, manicures/ pedicures, non-permanent hair removal such a ...
Jerilyn Stanfield in
Cincinnati
Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line w ...
, Ohio.
[ ]
Henderson then murdered his in-laws, Barnett, his wife Marie, and their eleven-year-old son Clifford in
Cherry Fork, Ohio
Cherry Fork is an unincorporated community and former village in Wayne Township, Adams County, Ohio, United States. The population was 170 at the 2020 census. In 2014, voters chose to disincorporate the village.
History
Cherry Fork was origi ...
on January 21, 1982.
Three days later, he murdered
receptionist
A receptionist is an employee taking an office or administrative support position. The work is usually performed in a waiting area such as a lobby or front office desk of an organization or business. The title ''receptionist'' is attributed t ...
Lucinda Lee Russell in
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, the county seat of Charleston County, and the principal city in the Charleston–North Charleston metropolitan area. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint o ...
.
On January 25, 1982, he murdered physician Murray Ferderber and
retail clerk
A retail clerk, also known as a salesclerk, shop clerk, retail associate or (in the United Kingdom) shop assistant or customer service assistant, is a service role in a retail business.
A retail clerk obtains or receives merchandise, totals bil ...
Dorothy Wilkinson in
Palatka, Florida.
On the same date, Henderson sexually assaulted a mother and a daughter in
Valdosta, Georgia
Valdosta is a city in and the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. As of 2019, Valdosta had an estimated population of 56,457.
Valdosta is the principal city of the Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in 2021 had ...
.
Henderson then murdered Cheryl McDonald in
Pascagoula, Mississippi
Pascagoula ( ) is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States. It is the principal city of the Pascagoula Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is part of the Gulfport– Biloxi–Pascagoula Combined Statistical Area. The population was 2 ...
on January 27, 1982.
Henderson murdered
nightclub
A nightclub (music club, discothèque, disco club, or simply club) is an entertainment venue during nighttime comprising a dance floor, lightshow, and a stage for live music or a disc jockey (DJ) who plays recorded music.
Nightclubs gen ...
owner Sam Corrent in
Port Allen, Louisiana
Port Allen is a city in, and the parish seat of, West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States. Located on the west bank of the Mississippi River, it is bordered by Interstate 10 and US Highway 190. The population was 5,180 at the 2010 cens ...
on January 29, 1982.
He then murdered
hitchhikers Robert Dawson, Frances Bell Dickey, and Vernon D. Odom in
Hernando County, Florida
Hernando County is a county located on the west central coast of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 194,515. Its county seat is Brooksville, and its largest community is Spring Hill.
Hernando County is in ...
on February 4, 1982.
After killing the twelve victims, Henderson turned himself in at a jail in
Punta Gorda, Florida
, nickname =
, settlement_type = List of municipalities in Florida, City
, motto =
, image_skyline = Punta Gorda City Hall.jpg
, imagesize = 250px
, image_caption ...
on February 6, 1982.
Trial and execution
Despite his lawyers attempts to keep Henderson out of the
electric chair
An electric chair is a device used to execute an individual by electrocution. When used, the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes fastened on the head and leg. This execution method, ...
, he was given three death sentences. Henderson's lawyers appealed once to the
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. Federal tribunals in the United States, federal court cases, and over Stat ...
for a
new trial
A new trial or retrial is a recurrence of a court case. A new trial may potentially be ordered for some or all of the matters at issue in the original trial. Depending upon the rules of the jurisdiction and the decision of the court that ordered ...
, but the request was denied.
Henderson was executed by
electric chair
An electric chair is a device used to execute an individual by electrocution. When used, the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes fastened on the head and leg. This execution method, ...
on April 21, 1993, at the
Florida State Prison
Florida State Prison (FSP), otherwise known as Raiford Prison, is a correctional institution located in unincorporated Bradford County, Florida. It was formerly known as the "Florida State Prison-East Unit" as it was originally part of Florida St ...
.
He was pronounced dead at 7:10 a.m.
See also
*
Capital punishment in Florida
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in the U.S. state of Florida.
Since 1976, the state has executed 99 convicted murderers, all at Florida State Prison. As of July 8, 2021, 327 offenders are awaiting execution.
History
Florida performed ...
*
Capital punishment in the United States
In the United States, capital punishment is a legal penalty throughout the country at the federal level, in 27 states, and in American Samoa. It is also a legal penalty for some military offenses. Capital punishment has been abolished in 23 ...
*
List of people executed in Florida
The following is a list of people executed by the U.S. state of Florida since capital punishment was resumed in the United States in 1976.
The total amounts to 103 people. Of the 103 people executed, 44 have been executed by electrocution and 59 ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Henderson, Robert Dale
1945 births
1993 deaths
20th-century American criminals
20th-century executions by Florida
American people convicted of murder
American spree killers
Executed spree killers
Family murders
People convicted of murder by Florida
People executed for murder
People executed by Florida by electric chair
People from Missouri