Robert Wayne Danielson Jr. (August 25, 1946 – September 7, 1995)[2] was an American serial killer who shot and killed six people at camp sites or parks in three states between December 1981 and November 1982 for the purpose of robbery. He had previously been convicted of manslaughter in 1970 and was paroled just months before his killing spree began. Convicted and sentenced to death in California, where two of his murders occurred, Danielson killed himself while awaiting execution at San Quentin State Prison in 1995.[3]
Robert Wayne Danielson | |
|---|---|
 Mugshot | |
| Born | Robert Wayne Danielson Jr. August 15, 1946 Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | September 7, 1995 (aged 49) |
| Cause of death | Suicide by hanging |
| Criminal status | Deceased |
| Conviction(s) | Oregon Aggravated murder Voluntary manslaughter First degree robbery Being a convicted person in possession of a concealed weapon Illegal possession of narcotics California First degree murder with special circumstances (2 counts) Kidnapping (2 counts) Robbery (2 counts) Burglary |
| Criminal penalty | Oregon Life imprisonment California Death |
| Details | |
| Victims | 7+ |
Span of crimes | 1970–1982 |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | Arizona, Oregon, California (confirmed) Idaho, Nevada (suspected)[1] |
Date apprehended | April 6, 1984 |
Early life
editDanielson was born on August 25, 1946, in Iowa. Although little was initially reported about his childhood, it was later revealed that Danielson had experienced depression and drug use. He also later underwent a religious conversion in prison.[4]
Murders
editOn June 23, 1970, Danielson got into an argument with 21-year-old Thomas Elroy Davis after a roadside encounter near Marcola, Oregon.[5] After some time, Danielson brandished a gun and fatally shot Davis. He was charged with first-degree murder not long after, but after an initial mistrial, which resulted from the prosecution presenting improper evidence, that charge was dismissed.[6] Instead, in November 1970, Danielson pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and several other charges, although persisted that he only shot Davis in self defense.[5] Nonetheless, he received a sentence of 25 years in prison.[6][7]
In 1981, after serving eleven years of his sentence at Oregon State Penitentiary, Danielson was granted parole, and released from prison in November. On December 9, Danielson confronted 60-year-old Harold and 55-year-old Betty Pratt at a desert campsite in Arizona. He bound their hands with a rope, and shot both in the head, execution style, and later stole their pickup truck. The next day, their bodies were discovered, and their truck was found abandoned in Yuma. In the subsequent investigation, investigators put out a reward of $5,000 for information.[8]
In the following months, Danielson, who was residing in Springfield, Oregon, became acquainted with 14-year-old Lenora Hart Johnson and the two sparked a relationship, with Johnson herself later stating it was "like a common-law marriage". On June 21, 1982, Danielson and Johnson attacked 62-year-old Arthur E. Gray at a park in Eugene. Gray, who had left his home earlier that day to go fishing, was bound by Danielson who proceeded to shoot him once in the back of the head.[9] His body was found on June 25 by members of a youth group.[10]
In July, Danielson, accompanied by Johnson, stumbled into 69-year-old Benjamin and 62-year-old Edith Shaffer at a park in Manchester, California. Johnson bound the Shaffers' hands with twine, and Danielson proceeded to demand she walk their dog away from the scene. When she was a far enough distance away, Danielson shot the couple to death.[9] In November, Danielson murdered 38-year-old Ernest Corral in a similar fashion in Apache Junction, Arizona.[9]
Investigation and arrest
editAfter murdering the Shaffers, Danielson retained their credit cards and campervan, although he would abandon it in Reno, Nevada.[11] In December 1983, road workers in Manchester unearthed two bodies inside a ravine off Mountain View Road, later identifying them as the Shaffers through dental records. During the investigation, detectives named Danielson their prime suspect, as he had been identified as the man seen using the couple's credit cards.[11] Detectives located Johnson, who confessed to being involved in the murders, but said that Danielson was the mastermind. She also told investigators about the murder of Arthur Gray, and the other murders which Danielson confessed to her.[12]
Following this, Danielson was charged with two counts of murder, but did not surrender to the police and was considered a fugitive. On April 6, 1984, Danielson was located in Odessa, Texas, and he was arrested at his job at a traveling carnival.[12]
Trials
editDanielson was to stand trial for the California murders first.[13] During one day of his trial, Danielson's mother Mary Ann Bishop attempted to pass her son a loaded revolver as he entered the Mendocino Courthouse. The attempt was noticed, Bishop was arrested, and was given a 3-year prison term.[3]
In July 1986, the jury composed of four women and eight men found Danielson guilty of killing the Shaffers, and on the basis of which made him eligible for the death penalty. Danielson pleaded for his life to be spared, even exclaiming during his testimony "I'm disgusted with myself".[14] During the sentencing phase, his lawyers said that other infamous criminals such as Charles Manson, Juan Corona, and the Hillside Stranglers were sentenced to life rather than to death (Manson was sentenced to death, but had his sentence commuted to life after capital punishment was temporarily ruled unconstitutional, while Corona committed his crimes before capital punishment was reinstated). Two months after his conviction, the jury ultimately sentenced Danielson to death.[13][15]
After the trial, Danielson was extradited to Oregon to stand trial for the murder of Arthur Gray.[16] In February 1987, Danielson was found guilty, but was not eligible for execution due to Oregon's capital punishment statute not being in effect when Gray was murdered, so instead the jury imposed the sentence of life imprisonment on February 22.[17]
Death
editFor the remainder of his death sentence, Danielson was housed in San Quentin State Prison awaiting execution. On September 7, 1995, a San Quentin corrections officer named J.S. Spellman found Danielson hanging from a white tube sock in his cell. After unsuccessfully attempting to gain Danielson's attention, he signaled to other prison officials, who declared Danielson dead.[18]
See also
editExternal links
editReferences
edit- ^ "Ex-convict being sought in 5 states". Associated Press. 10 February 1984. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ "Robert Wayne Danielson Jr. (1946-1995) - Find a..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
- ^ a b "Death row inmate hangs self". United Press International. 15 September 1995. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Death sentence upheld in county murder case". Associated Press. 25 October 1992. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Danielson Pleads Guilty, Sentenced". Associated Press. 21 November 1970. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Fatal Shot Is Admitted By Ex-Con". Associated Press. 18 November 1970. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Admitted Killer Sentenced to 25". The Arizona Daily Star. 21 November 1970. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Rewards offered in couple's slaying". United Press International. 10 February 1982. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "Accused killer to stand trial". Ukiah Daily Journal. 11 August 1985. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ 3 apparently homicide victims. Corvallis Gazette-Times. June 28, 1982.
- ^ a b 2 bodies identified as missing couple. The Fresno Bee. December 22, 1983.
- ^ a b "FBI nabs county murder suspect". Ukiah Daily Journal. 6 April 1984. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Danielson handed death penalty". Ukiah Daily Journal. 28 September 1986. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Danielson pleads for a 'fair judgement'". Ukiah Daily Journal. 10 September 1984. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
- ^ "Murderer given death sentence". Ukiah Daily Journal. 1986-11-14. p. 1. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
- ^ "Oregon trial of Danielson". The Press Democrat. 13 February 1987. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Danielson gets life for Oregon killing". Ukiah Daily Journal. 22 February 1987. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Death row inmate kills self". Ukiah Daily Journal. 14 September 1995. Retrieved 9 March 2022.