Joanna McElrath

Case information

Joanna Lynn McElrath was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the first-degree murder of her husband, Susanville Police Officer Robert McElrath.

Background

Joanna McElrath was described as having a history of promiscuity and as having stubbornly resisted getting treatment for depression and mental instability, according to her mother’s statement in court.

Joanna McElrath’s mother, Tish Beckett, described Joanna McElrath’s depression and mental instability, and discussed Joanna McElrath’s resistance to treatment.

Robert McElrath’s mother, Dorene Perez, spoke directly to Joanna McElrath during the sentencing hearing.

Joanna McElrath’s 18-year-old adopted daughter, Samantha McElrath, testified in court.

The offence

Joanna McElrath pleaded guilty to the 2011 New Year’s Day slaying of her husband, Susanville Police Officer Robert McElrath.

Authorities said McElrath and her romantic partner at the time, 49-year-old Robin Glen James, drugged Robert McElrath with a prescription narcotic before driving him in his own car to a railroad trestle over the Susan River, seven miles west of Susanville. The victim, though off duty at the time of the shooting, was shot with his service weapon. His body was later dumped off the bridge.

Robert McElrath was found dead from a gunshot wound near a railroad trestle west of Susanville.

Investigators said that after the shooting they later returned to dump his body off the bridge.

Investigation

Lassen County deputies found Robert McElrath dead from a gunshot wound on January 2 near a railroad trestle west of Susanville. His death was ruled a homicide after an autopsy on January 3.

Court transcripts filed in Lassen County Superior Court included text messages between Joanna McElrath and Robin James that documented alleged efforts to kill Robert McElrath on the night of January 1.

Verbatim text-message content included the following, with timings shown in the court-transcript excerpt:

• AT 7:17 Joanna’s phone records show she texted James with: "...gave him a mudslide with meds he downed it, then had a kamakazi no meds and is in the shower, I'm making another mudslide for him.
• At 7:20 James' phone records show a reply where he told her to be careful and that he loved her. 8:55"
• Joanna: "how long so these (expletive) take."
• James: "listen to his breathing, when it gets rough and shallow do the fur thing, love you honey."
• 9:01: Joanna texts James about the amount of pills given to her husband.
• James: "(expletive) he needs to take all 9:03: Joanna: "i'm ready for you to use his gun on his rt temple."
• 9:58: Joanna: "I'm freaking out"
• At 10:08 she indicated that she got her husband to take the last three pills.
• 10:21: Joanna: "want me to get the rap outta here os you can so what you need to do, I will lv door unlocked."
• In a later text message James asks if Joanna is having second thoughts.
• Joanna's reply: "No I wanted this to work with him to just go ot sleep and nvr wake up! I don's know what to do right now I want a life with you and I want future as ur wife forever!!"
• James: " I have a gun I'm wiling to use for you not many men have GONE this far for you."
• At 12:51 James writes he is on his way to Devil's Corral, at 1:06 a message reads "here," Joanna Responds: "I LOVE YOU HONEY."
• She later texts: "Should I send a text to (robert's) phone asking him where he is and if he's OK?
• James tells her to send the text.
• Joanna later writes: "I’m shaking uncontrollably here!!! What kind of woman am I?
• James responds: "You are an abused woman. You did NOT TO ANYTHING. After Joanne tells James the scanner indicates law enforcement and an ambulance are on their way to devil's bridge.
• James writes ":...here we go, by the way me and you saw each other yest. Need to explaing my fingerprints on the car. Know what I MEAN?

A preliminary hearing was expected to be set for Joanna McElrath and Robin James in Lassen County Superior Court. The District Attorney had not yet indicated whether he would seek the death penalty.

Arrest and detention

Joanna Lynne McElrath (formerly Beckett) was arrested January 6. She was 37 at the time of arrest per the contemporaneous reporting, and she was of Susanville, according to the reporting.

Joanna McElrath and Robin Glen James were booked into the Lassen County jail after their arrests. They were moved to the Shasta County jail earlier in February for security reasons and to separate them from each other.

Lassen County Undersheriff John Mineau said: "It's just a lot easier to keep them apart if they're both not here."

Mineau also said: "It's been a long time since he's worked here," referring to Robert McElrath having worked at the jail before joining the Susanville Police Department in 2003.

Joanna McElrath and Robin James were being held without bail.

Joanna McElrath and James pleaded not guilty on January 10 to charges of murder, conspiracy, and special allegations that the murder involved financial gain and lying in wait.

A preliminary hearing had been set for February 2 but was postponed until March 9 because one of Joanna McElrath's attorneys had a timing conflict.

Trial

A jury trial was scheduled to be held in Yuba County after a ruling by Judge John T. Ball that the publicity surrounding the case was so extensive that neither defendant would receive a fair trial in Lassen County. The plea eliminated Joanna McElrath’s jury trial.

Joanna McElrath pleaded guilty in March.

Sentencing

Timeline

• January 1, 2011 — Text messages described alleged efforts to kill Susanville Police Officer Robert McElrath on the night of January 1.
• January 2 — Lassen County deputies found Robert McElrath dead from a gunshot wound near a railroad trestle west of Susanville.
• January 3 — Robert McElrath’s death was ruled a homicide after an autopsy.
• January 6 — Joanna Lynne McElrath was arrested.
• January 10 — Joanna McElrath and Robin Glen James pleaded not guilty to murder, conspiracy, and special allegations including financial gain and lying in wait.
• February 2 — Joanna McElrath was transferred to the Shasta County jail.
• February 19 — Reporting described Joanna McElrath’s detention and separation from James.
• March 9 — A preliminary hearing was postponed until this date due to a timing conflict of one of Joanna McElrath’s attorneys.
• March 2014 — Joanna McElrath pleaded guilty.
• May 23, 2014 — Joanna McElrath was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

On May 23, 2014, Lassen County Judge John T. Ball sentenced Joanna McElrath to 25 years to life in prison for first-degree murder of her husband, Susanville Police Officer Robert McElrath.

McElrath had pleaded guilty in March to the 2011 New Year’s Day slaying.

In exchange for the plea and for waiving her right to appeal the conviction, Lassen County District Attorney Robert M. Burns dropped special allegations against McElrath that would have precluded the possibility of parole. Burns also dismissed a charge of conspiracy to commit murder.

Burns initially charged McElrath with premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit murder, with special allegations that the murder involved lying in wait and was committed for financial gain. The conspiracy charge was dropped, which could reduce McElrath’s sentence.

Judge John T. Ball denied McElrath probation and ordered her to pay $8,913 in restitution to cover the costs of her husband’s funeral.

The judge imposed the mandatory sentence but awarded McElrath credit for the 1,233 days she had spent in custody.

When McElrath was sentenced, the judge stated: "When she is released from state prison is now up to the parole board and her own behavior, he said."

Statements made at sentencing

Samantha McElrath, the victim’s 18-year-old adopted daughter, said in court: "I lost both my dad and my mom … Thanks to my mom I’ll never have a normal day in my life," and left the witness stand in tears.

Tish Beckett, McElrath’s mother, asked the McElrath family to forgive the Beckett family and called for both families to make the McElraths’ four children their first priority, stating: "They need each and every one of us,".

Dorene Perez, Robert McElrath’s mother, said to Joanna McElrath: "Most mothers put their children first. You didn’t,".

In her statement to the court, McElrath apologized briefly for her crimes and described her time in custody, stating: "far from an easy time."

McElrath also stated: "And I know that (Robert) loves me still," prompting several family members to leave the courtroom.

Robert M. Burns responded to McElrath’s statement, stating: "The sentiment I heard today doesn’t even scratch the surface," and: "We hope (McElrath’s) discomfort continues."

Co-defendant status

The judge continued the case against Robin James to July 11.

Robin Glen James faced premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and special allegations that the murder involved lying in wait and his use of a firearm.

Burns said James’ case was delayed until the conclusion of McElrath’s case.

James was scheduled to appear in Lassen County Superior Court on May 23 for a trial-setting conference.

Other details

Robert McElrath worked at the jail before joining the Susanville Police Department in 2003, according to Sheriff-Coroner Dean F. Growdon.

Robert McElrath was described as having been a Marine before becoming a correctional officer for the sheriff’s office. He then joined the Susanville Police Department as a reserve officer; in 2006, he became a regular officer.

Joanna McElrath sat impassive and handcuffed in a blue prison jumpsuit throughout the 90-minute hearing.

The court was packed with relatives of both Joanna and Robert McElrath during the sentencing hearing.

McElrath was described as 39 at sentencing and as 37 at the time of arrest per contemporaneous reporting.