Robert Otis Coulson

Case identification

• Name: Robert Otis Coulson

Status

Robert Otis Coulson was executed by lethal injection in Texas on June 25, 2002. He was pronounced dead at 6:23 p.m.

Timeline

• Nov. 13, 1992 — Firefighters from the Houston Fire Department discovered five victims inside a house fire; the victims were his mother, father, two sisters, and his brother-in-law.
• Nov. 14, 1992 — Investigators were alerted by a family friend that the remaining family member, Robert Coulson, and his roommate, Jared Althaus, were spending the weekend at the Althaus family farm in Caldwell; Robert Coulson provided a written statement after arriving at a police station around 5:30 p.m.
• Nov. 15, 1992 — Robert Coulson contacted his parents’ attorney seeking information about the size of the estate; police confronted Jared Althaus around 10:00 p.m. at a motel in San Marcos.
• Nov. 17, 1992 — A police officer watched Coulson during a funeral service, observed him perform a “dance step” as he left, and Jared Althaus, still in custody, finally confessed his involvement in the premeditated plan.
• June 16, 1994 — A jury found Robert Otis Coulson guilty of capital murder.
• June 22, 1994 — After a separate punishment phase, the court sentenced Coulson to death.
• Jan. 14, 1997 — Coulson’s conviction became final when the time for filing a petition for writ of certiorari expired.
• Sept. 5, 1997 — Coulson filed an application for post conviction writ of habeas corpus in state court.
• Nov. 3, 1998 — The 180th District Court of Harris County held an evidentiary hearing on allegations of police and prosecutorial misconduct.
• Jan. 5, 1999 — The 180th District Court adopted the State’s proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law and found Coulson failed to demonstrate his conviction was unlawfully obtained.
• June 9, 1999 — The Court of Criminal Appeals denied state habeas relief.
• Aug. 9, 1999 — Coulson filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in federal court.
• Aug. 31, 2000 — The Federal District Court granted the Director’s motion for summary judgment and dismissed Coulson’s petition with prejudice; the court granted a certificate of appealability as to his false evidence claim but denied COA as to all others.
• Sept. 9, 2000 — The district court granted a motion for reconsideration and dismissed with prejudice again; the court granted in part a motion to alter or amend judgment and extended COA to cover two additional claims.
• March 18, 2002 — The Supreme Court denied Coulson’s petition for writ of certiorari.
• June 25, 2002 — Coulson was executed by lethal injection in Texas; he delivered final words from the gurney.

Background

Robert Otis Coulson was scheduled to be executed on June 25, 2002. The victims were his parents, Otis and Mary Coulson, and his sister Sarah Coulson, and Robin and Rick Wentworth. Coulson was the adopted son of Otis and Mary, and Robin Wentworth’s natural brother.

The Houston-area man sentenced to death for killing five members of his family was adopted; he had no prior criminal history. The only family survivor was Sarah Coulson’s son, who was described as one month old at the time of the November 1992 attack and was adopted shortly after birth.

Coulson’s father, Otis Coulson, had written notes on an envelope concerning a proposed business deal. Coulson was listed as an heir in Otis Coulson’s will but eventually relinquished his rights to the inheritance during a civil trial. The inheritance was described as $600,000 and was placed in a trust fund for the lone survivor.

Robert Coulson said he was innocent of the slayings and maintained that he was at a shopping mall when the attack occurred.

The offence

On Nov. 13, 1992, the Houston Fire Department discovered five victims while extinguishing a house fire. The victims were:

• Otis Coulson
• Mary Coulson
• Sarah Coulson
• Robin Coulson
• Richard (Rick) Wentworth

Coulson had individually subdued each victim, bound their hands and feet, and secured a plastic bag over their heads. All five victims died of asphyxia due to suffocation.

After the victims were dead, Coulson poured gasoline on the bodies and set the house on fire. One victim, Robin Wentworth, was described as six months pregnant.

Investigation and evidence collection

Investigators were alerted by a family friend that the remaining family member, Robert Coulson, and his roommate, Jared Althaus, were spending the weekend at the Althaus family farm in Caldwell.

Statements and statements timeline

• Arrival at police station: Coulson and Althaus arrived at a police station around 5:30 p.m. and were interviewed separately.
• Coulson’s written statement: Coulson said he had last been at his parents’ home on Thursday, Nov. 12, however, no one was home; he said he and Althaus had stopped for gas on the way to the farm around 4:15 p.m. that Friday; Coulson consented to a search of the car, and nothing was found.
• Althaus’s statement: Althaus also gave a statement saying he and Coulson left for the farm around 4:00 p.m. on Friday, and Althaus provided a receipt for the purchase of gasoline.
• Coulson’s inquiry to parents’ attorney: On Sunday, Nov. 15, Coulson contacted his parents’ attorney seeking information about the size of the estate, and became concerned when he learned he might not be the sole beneficiary.

Motel confrontation and recantation

Around 10:00 p.m. on Monday, Coulson’s officers confronted a distraught Jared Althaus at a motel in San Marcos. Althaus agreed to meet officers in Houston and gave a second statement in which he recanted his alibi for Coulson. Althaus stated he dropped Coulson off at Coulson’s parents’ house and picked him up a few hours later; Althaus said he did not know Coulson had murdered the family at that time.

Police surveillance and funeral observations

A police officer conducting surveillance of Coulson and his activities at the funeral on Nov. 17 watched Coulson during the service and noticed Coulson showed no emotion at the church or grave side service. After the funeral, the officer watched Coulson leave the church to walk a friend to her car, and observed Coulson smile, snap his fingers, and clap his hands and do a “dance step” before returning to his previous solemn expression.

Confession and planning

After Althaus was in custody, he finally confessed on Nov. 17 that he had helped plan the murders for several months, including helping Coulson carry out the family’s murder. Althaus confessed that Coulson enlisted him in the plan to kill Coulson’s parents approximately three or four months prior to their deaths. About three months before the murders, Coulson and Althaus began purchasing supplies, including duct tape, zip cords, and a stun gun for immobilizing victims.

According to Althaus:

• Coulson selected the stun gun and bought it, while Althaus paid for it.
• Coulson purchased trash compactor bags because they were described as the strongest.
• The supplies were placed in Althaus’s gray backpack, including Althaus’s .9 millimeter gun, and stored in Coulson’s parents’ garage attic the day before the murders.
• Althaus bought a gasoline container the night before the murders because Coulson did not want to be seen doing it.
• Coulson and Althaus chose a dark spot in the neighborhood as a drop-off point on Wednesday before the murders.
• Coulson visited his uncle Peter to make sure Peter would not be coming to town that weekend.

Crime scene planning and execution

On the day of the murders:

• Althaus left work at 3:00 p.m. and met Coulson at the apartment complex where Coulson waited using his girlfriend’s black Toyota Celica.
• Coulson asserted he dressed in casual attire because cameras at the apartment complex would show him; on the way to the crime scene, Coulson changed into dark jeans, a blue sweatshirt, a baseball hat, sunglasses, and white tennis shoes.
• Althaus dropped Coulson off around 4:15 p.m.; Althaus drove while Coulson disposed of evidence out the window of the car, throwing items out whenever there was a ditch or culvert. Many items were recovered that would have been on the passenger side of the car.
• Althaus drove around and returned to the house around 6:00 p.m.; Althaus circled three times until Coulson came running out of the bushes carrying the gas can, backpack, and a crowbar, and told Althaus it had not gone as planned.

During the murders, Coulson allegedly told Althaus details, including:

• Coulson tried to immobilize his mother with the stun gun, but it did not work; Coulson told Althaus that his mother struggled the most and Coulson had to smother her with a pillow before binding her hands and feet.
• Coulson described his father as “a wimp” and said he was easily taken care of.
• Coulson tried to use the stun gun on Sarah but it still did not work; Coulson told Sarah he needed some money and that nothing was going to happen; Coulson told Althaus that Sarah did not put up a fight and that Coulson told her he was sorry and he loved her and then hugged her.
• Coulson said Sarah thanked him for waiting until she had her baby, then Coulson put the bag on her head and zip-corded it.
• Coulson called Robin earlier in the week and told her to show up around 5:00 p.m.; Robin and Rick Wentworth arrived early while Coulson was still with Sarah.
• Rick Wentworth jimmied the locked screen door and was inside; Coulson was unable to separate Rick from Robin, who was described as six months pregnant.
• Coulson threatened them with the gun, telling them Althaus was in another room with their parents and would kill them if they did anything; Coulson hit both of them in the head with a crowbar, striking Rick more than once.
• Coulson then bound and gagged them and put bags on their heads.
• Coulson had planned to remove trash bags and zip cords to make it look as if they died of smoke inhalation, but fumes ignited in the room containing the parents’ bodies; Coulson presumed it was from a hot water heater; Coulson lit the rest of the bodies with matches.

Althaus stated that Coulson called the house and told his parents he had news about a business deal and that he needed to talk to them; Coulson then took his mother into a spare bedroom on the left side of the house.

Tape-recorded incriminating statements

After Althaus’ confession, police accompanied Althaus to collect evidence discarded by Coulson and arranged a meeting between Althaus and Coulson at a local hotel. During the meeting, Coulson was tape-recorded making incriminating statements, including repeatedly pressuring Althaus to maintain their previously established alibi; telling him the police had nothing on them; and telling him the police had to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was Coulson’s car that was seen and that Coulson and Althaus had done it. Coulson also made statements that later contradicted his testimony at trial.

Coulson was arrested as he tried to leave the hotel, carrying a notebook; the tape-recorded conversation indicated Coulson attempted to write in the notebook rather than talk to Althaus.

While en route to the police station, Coulson made several incriminating statements. The police showed pictures of evidence collected and read him his Miranda rights. Coulson then said he did not hate his family as most people thought, but that he was having financial difficulties and this was the only way out, and he said society considered you a failure if you did not succeed financially. Coulson said he had overcharged credit cards, was in debt from college, and owed everyone, and that this was the only way he could make it financially. Coulson also stated he never denied having killed his family, and when asked if he intended Rick and Robin to be at the house that Friday, he nodded his head up and down; when asked “why,” Coulson paused and said the question was too difficult to answer.

Arrest

Coulson was arrested as he tried to leave the hotel. He was carrying a notebook at the time.

Coulson and Althaus were arrested on Nov. 17, 1992, four days after the bodies were discovered in the charred wreckage of Coulson’s Spring Branch home.

Trial

Court and verdict

Coulson was tried before the 182nd District Court of Harris County, Texas.

On June 16, 1994, a jury found Coulson guilty of capital murder of his sister and brother-in-law, Robin and Rick Wentworth, which occurred in Houston, Texas, on Nov. 13, 1992. Also killed in the same transaction were his parents, Otis and Mary Coulson, and his sister Sarah Coulson.

Punishment phase and sentence

After a separate punishment phase, the court sentenced Coulson to death on June 22, 1994.

Trial testimony and disputes

In his defense, Coulson presented witnesses to counter the State’s evidence. A neighbor testified that he had not seen Coulson in the neighborhood on that day. Several friends and neighbors of Coulson’s parents testified that they never heard Coulson say derogatory things about his family and never knew of problems between them.

Coulson testified in his own defense, denied killing any member of his family, and accused Althaus of being romantically interested in Coulson and obsessed with him. Coulson claimed he was uncomfortable around Althaus and intended to move out; Coulson’s testimony was said to be contradicted by the tape-recorded conversation in which Coulson told Althaus he loved him and would not interfere in Althaus’ relationships.

On cross examination, Coulson denied the testimony of eight witnesses, including his cousin and several police officers, and accused them of lying under oath. Coulson also claimed that three other witnesses were mistaken about what they heard.

Coulson denied hatred of his family being the motivation, and in custody he described financial difficulties.

In statements later described in the record, Coulson insisted he was innocent of the slayings and was at a shopping mall when the attack occurred. Coulson maintained his innocence from death row.

Evidence disputes about witness and forensic evidence

Coulson argued against the State’s evidence, including the credibility of Jared Althaus, who was described as having given multiple statements to police and having pleaded guilty and received a reduced sentence in exchange for cooperation.

The envelope issue was described as part of the case linking Coulson to expectations that he would be at the house. Prosecutors argued that an envelope found out on Otis Coulson’s desk indicated expectations regarding a business deal. Later proceedings described the dispute as involving photographs and evidence that the envelope was not on the desk on the night of the murders.

A police officer’s involvement was also discussed in Coulson’s last statement.

Sentencing

Coulson received a death sentence on June 22, 1994 after a separate punishment phase.

Coulson had no prior criminal history.

Appeals

State habeas

Coulson’s conviction and sentence were affirmed on direct appeal. His conviction became final on Jan. 14, 1997, when the time for filing a petition for writ of certiorari expired.

Coulson filed an application for post conviction writ of habeas corpus in the state court on Sept. 5, 1997. On Nov. 3, 1998, the 180th District Court of Harris County held an evidentiary hearing on allegations of police and prosecutorial misconduct. The court adopted the State’s proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law on Jan. 5, 1999 and found Coulson failed to demonstrate his conviction was unlawfully obtained. The Court of Criminal Appeals denied state habeas relief on June 9, 1999.

Federal habeas

Coulson filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in federal court on Aug. 9, 1999 and supplemental briefs in support. The Federal District Court granted the Director’s motion for summary judgment on Aug. 31, 2000. The court granted a certificate of appealability as to Coulson’s false evidence claim, but denied COA as to all others. Coulson filed a motion for reconsideration and a motion to alter or amend judgment on Sept. 9, 2000. The district court granted the motion for reconsideration of judgment, but once again granted the Director’s motion for summary judgment and dismissed Coulson’s petition with prejudice. The court granted in part Coulson’s motion to alter or amend judgment and extended COA to cover two additional claims. After hearing oral argument, the Fifth Circuit affirmed the District Court’s denial of relief.

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court denied Coulson’s petition for writ of certiorari on March 18, 2002.

Outcome

Coulson was executed by lethal injection in Texas on June 25, 2002.

Final meal

None was reported.

Final words

Coulson said:

"I'm innocent. I had absolutely nothing to do with my family's murder. I want to thank the people who supported me. I hope they will continue the fight. That's all."

As lethal drugs were about to begin, Coulson also said:

"You know you planted that evidence, Dale Atchetee. You know it and I know it."

Aftermath

Clemency and pardons

Coulson made three requests to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles: one for a conditional pardon, another for a commutation of his sentence, and another for a reprieve of execution. The board rejected all three requests by a 17-0 vote.

ACLU letter

The American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter urging a stay of execution and cited reasons including conflicting statements by the State’s key witness, the lack of forensic evidence linking Coulson to the crimes, and evidence that the State presented manufactured evidence to the jury.

Other details

Victim details as described

The bodies were discovered inside the parents’ smoldering home in the 9700 block of Westview in northwest Houston; the Coulson home was described as located in the Spring Branch area. The youngest victim described was Sarah Coulson, who was described as 21 years old in one account.

The victims were described as bound with plastic ties and gagged with duct tape, and plastic trash compactor bags were placed over their heads before the victims were splashed with gasoline and the house was set on fire. The ensuing blaze burned the bodies beyond recognition.

Family relationships and inheritance described

Coulson was adopted; Otis and Mary Coulson were described as his adoptive parents. Sarah Coulson’s son was described as being adopted shortly after birth. Coulson relinquished his rights to the inheritance during a civil trial, and the inheritance was placed in a trust fund for the lone survivor.

Companion and accomplice details

Jared Althaus was described as Coulson’s roommate and as an accomplice who later confessed involvement in the premeditated plan to murder Coulson’s family. Althaus pleaded guilty and received a 10-year sentence after cooperation, following an earlier described 20-year prison term.

Althaus recanted two previous statements and confessed that he helped Coulson plan the killings for several months, and helped carry out the murders but was not at the Coulson house when the victims were killed, according to Althaus’s confession.

Prosecutor identified in one quote

Coulson’s final words included a specific accusation directed at “Dale Atchetee,” identifying him as a former Houston police homicide investigator involved in the murder investigation.