Robert Fry (murderer)
Robert Fry | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 18, 1973 Farmington, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Convictions | First degree murder (4 counts) First degree kidnapping (2 counts) First degree attempted criminal sexual penetration Attempted armed robbery Tampering with evidence (4 counts) Intimidation of a witness (2 counts) Larceny |
| Criminal penalty | Death; commuted to life imprisonment |
| Details | |
| Victims | 4 |
Span of crimes | 1996–2000 |
| State | New Mexico |
| Imprisoned at | Penitentiary of New Mexico |
Robert Fry (born August 18, 1973) is an American serial killer who was sentenced to death for the murder of a woman in 2000. He was also convicted of three additional murders that date back to 1996. In 2019, ten years after New Mexico repealed the death penalty, his death sentence was commuted to life.[1]
Case details
[edit]Fry, along with Leslie Engh, were initially arrested for the murder of Betty Lee in 2000, who was found bludgeoned and stabbed to death in San Juan County. The two offered Lee a ride after they saw her at a payphone.[2] From there, they killed her after attempting to rape her. Police were able to connect the pair to the murder through DNA evidence as well as shoe imprints and tire tracks.[3] Sometime after his arrest, Fry was linked to the murders of Donald Tsosie, Matthew Trecker and Joseph Fleming, the latter two of whom were killed at a store in Farmington.[4] In 2002, Fry was convicted of Lee's murder and was sentenced to death. He was also sentenced to life for Tsosie's murder.[5] In 2005, Fry received two more life sentences for the murders of Trecker and Fleming. He was additionally convicted of larceny, tampering with evidence and intimidation of a witness in connection with the double murder.[6] In 2013, a judge upheld Fry's death sentence.[7]
Leslie Engh pleaded guilty to two counts of first degree murder and two counts of first degree kidnapping in the deaths of Lee and Tsosie and was sentenced to life in prison.[8]
Subsequent developments
[edit]Despite New Mexico repealing capital punishment in 2009, Robert Fry, along with Timothy Allen remained on death row. However, in June 2019, the New Mexico Supreme Court vacated their death sentences which were then commuted to life without parole.[9] Although New Mexico did not have life without parole prior to the abolition of capital punishment in 2009, Fry will spend the rest of his life in prison as his four consecutive life terms render him ineligible for parole for 120 years.[10]
Victims
[edit]Robert Fry killed four people over the span of four years.[11]
- Joseph Fleming, 25 - November 28, 1996, Farmington
- Matthew Trecker, 18 - November 28, 1996, Farmington
- Donald Tsosie, 40 - April, 1998, San Juan County
- Betty Lee, 36 - June, 2000, San Juan County
Fry's accomplice, Leslie Engh, was present for the murders of Tsosie and Lee. He was convicted of first degree murder for their deaths and is currently in prison.[12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Lee, Morgan (June 28, 2019). "New Mexico sets aside final 2 death sentences". The Associated Press. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
- ^ "STATE v. FRY (2005)". FindLaw.
- ^ "State v. Fry". Vlex.
- ^ "Convicted Murderer Faces Trial For More Killings". KOAT-TV. January 5, 2005. Retrieved March 3, 2005.
- ^ Haywood, Phaedra (April 10, 2018). "Lawyers plead for lives of last 2 death row prisoners". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
- ^ "Death Row Inmate Found Guilty Of 1996 Double Murder". KOAT-TV. January 21, 2005. Retrieved March 3, 2005.
- ^ "Robert Fry will stay on death row". KOAT-TV. August 8, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
- ^ "Bobby Fry Archives". Forensic Files Now. 2018-06-14. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ Lee, Morgan. "New Mexico Supreme Court vacates death penalties for Timothy Allen, Robert Fry". The Associates Press. Las Cruses Sun-News. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
- ^ Kellogg, Joshua. "Convicted murders have death sentence vacated by NM Supreme Court". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ Barker, Larry (October 31, 2013). "Killer walks halls as execution stalled". KRQE. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
- ^ "Offender Information". New Mexico Corrections Department.
- Living people
- 1973 births
- 20th-century American murderers
- American people convicted of murder
- American people convicted of kidnapping
- American people convicted of attempted rape
- American people convicted of obstruction of justice
- American prisoners sentenced to death
- People from Farmington, New Mexico
- People convicted of murder by New Mexico
- Prisoners sentenced to death by New Mexico
- Serial killers from New Mexico