David James Roberts

Name

David James Roberts

Status

David James Roberts was resentenced to six life sentences in prison.

Characteristics

Roberts was described as a serial rapist, and his motive was stated as sex/PCrevenge.

Timeline

• January 1944 — Roberts was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.
• 22 — Roberts logged his first adult arrest at age 22.
• 1969 — Roberts took part in a bloody 1969 riot in the state reformatory.
• December 12, 1972 — Roberts was paroled.
• January 20, 1974 — Roberts was at large on the night when he dropped by Bill Patrick’s home with cans of gasoline in hand.
• March 1974 — Roberts was indicted on triple murder charges.
• September 17 — A judge set bail at $10,000.
• Early November 1974 — Roberts abducted a 19-year-old Indianapolis woman, raped her twice, and left her locked in the trunk of her car.
• January 27, 1989 — Roberts pleaded guilty to escape and kidnapping charges.
• February 7, 1988 — Roberts’ case was profiled on the first edition of a television program, “America’s Most Wanted.”
• February 11 — At least 75 callers identified Roberts as “Robert Lord,” and federal agents arrested Roberts.
• April 27, 1987 — Roberts’ name reached the “Ten Most Wanted” list.
• October 24, 1986 — Roberts returned from Wishard Memorial Hospital and drew a gun on his escorts, handcuffed both officers, and drove to Hammond, Indiana.
• October 1986 — Roberts complained of breathing difficulties and requested a medical examination.
• 1944 — Birth in Perth Amboy, New Jersey occurred in January 1944.

Background

Roberts was a native of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and was born in January 1944. He logged his first adult arrest at age 22. Roberts preyed on women in Gary and Crown Point, Indiana, and he raped and robbed at least two victims, leaving them locked in the trunks of their cars, before police picked him up.

Roberts’ conviction on reduced charges of armed robbery earned him a twelve-year sentence in the state reformatory, where Roberts took part in a bloody 1969 riot. He was listed as one of the 46 wounded and carried scars from knife and bullet wounds sustained in the melee. After serving half his sentence, Roberts was paroled on December 12, 1972.

The offence

Armed robbery and murders

Roberts purchased a set of new tires from a White River, Indiana, shop and drove off without paying. Manager Bill Patrick signed a complaint against Roberts, but Roberts remained at large on the night of January 20, 1974, when he dropped by Patrick’s home with cans of gasoline in hand.

Smoke inhalation was listed as the cause of death for Bill Patrick, Patrick’s wife Ann, and their year-old daughter Heidi.

Roberts was indicted on triple murder charges in March 1974, and he was held without bond until September 17, when a sympathetic judge set bail at $10,000. Roberts then reverted to kidnapping and rape in early November after his release.

Abduction, rape, and murder of an infant

In early November, Roberts abducted a 19-year-old Indianapolis woman. He raped her twice before leaving her locked in the trunk of her car. The victim’s six-month-old son was abandoned in nearby woods, where he died of exposure during the night.

Roberts was armed with a pistol when police picked him up on new felony charges.

Charges and sentencing

Roberts was convicted on four counts of murder. Additional charges included kidnapping, arson, and rape. The defendant was sentenced to die.

Investigation

Roberts’ crimes in Indiana included the rape and robbery of at least two victims who were left locked in car trunks prior to police picking him up. After Bill Patrick, Ann Patrick, and their year-old daughter Heidi died from smoke inhalation, detectives connected Roberts to the deaths. After the abduction and rape of the 19-year-old Indianapolis woman and the abandonment and death of the six-month-old son by exposure, investigators suspected Roberts and charged him with rape and murder.

Law enforcement officials made efforts to keep Roberts behind bars.

Arrest and escape attempts

After being convicted on murder, kidnapping, arson, and rape, Roberts was condemned to serve six life sentences in an Indiana State Prison. Subsequent commutation left Roberts facing six terms of life imprisonment, and he had no intention of serving his time.

In October 1986, Roberts complained of breathing difficulties and requested a medical examination. Returning from Wishard Memorial Hospital on October 24, 1986, he drew a gun on his escorts, handcuffed both officers, and drove them to Hammond, Indiana, where they escaped after Roberts stopped to make a phone call. Both officers were subsequently disciplined for negligence in handling their prisoner; one of the guards confessed to trafficking in contraband for prisoners and was summarily dismissed.

Federal warrants charged Roberts with unlawful flight to avoid confinement. His name reached the “Ten Most Wanted” list on April 27, 1987, but the fugitive was nowhere to be found. On February 7, 1988, his case was profiled on the first edition of “America’s Most Wanted.”

By February 11, at least 75 callers had identified Roberts as one “Robert Lord,” director of a shelter for homeless men on Staten Island, New York. Federal agents arrested Roberts on the job, from which he had been earning $18,000 yearly, and he was returned to Indiana for completion of his sentence.

Guilty plea

Roberts pleaded guilty January 27, 1989 to escape and kidnapping charges.

Trial

After commutation, Roberts faced six terms of life imprisonment.

Sentencing

Roberts was sentenced to die for four counts of murder with additional charges of kidnapping, arson, and rape. Subsequent commutation left him facing six terms of life imprisonment.

Roberts was resentenced to six life sentences in prison.

Appeals

The record described a subsequent commutation of his sentence, leaving him facing six terms of life imprisonment.

Outcome

Roberts was captured and returned to Indiana for completion of his sentence, and he later pleaded guilty January 27, 1989 to escape and kidnapping charges. He was serving several consecutive life sentences at Indiana’s Pendleton Correctional Facility.

Aftermath

Roberts was identified through tips following the February 7, 1988 “America’s Most Wanted” episode. The case was described as the first fugitive profiled on the program and the first captured. The hotline erupted as the episode aired, and many tips came from the New York City area.

A woman called the hotline claiming she was Bob Lord’s girlfriend and lived with the fugitive. She explained he had become ill and checked into a hospital. When authorities arrived at the hospital, they discovered that Lord had suddenly checked out. Detectives visited his room and found a copy of TV Guide laid on the bed opened to a promo for the story of David James Roberts on “America’s Most Wanted.”