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Robert Dale Henderson
Robert Dale Henderson (March 14, 1945[1][2] – April 21, 1993) was an American spree killer.[3][4] He murdered at least twelve victims.[4] Early lifeHenderson was born in Missouri, the son of Mary and Robert Henderson.[1] At the age of fifteen, he lived in Park Hills, Missouri.[1] The Henderson family then moved to Poplar Bluff, Missouri, after which his parents soon divorced.[5] He attended Cane Creek High School in Missouri, dropping out in 1962.[5] After dropping out, Henderson served in the United States Army.[5] He had duties in Fort Polk South, Louisiana, followed by a stint in Korea.[5] Henderson was discharged on May 14, 1964, for attacking an officer.[5] After being discharged, he worked numerous jobs.[5] In the 1970s, Henderson's residence was raided as part of an investigation into a suspected marijuana ring.[5] He also had stolen a driver's license in Brevard County, Florida.[5] In 1977, Henderson committed a robbery in Laramie, Wyoming, for which he was sent to the Wyoming State Penitentiary in October 1978.[5] He was later incarcerated in Robertson, Wyoming.[5] Henderson was released in July 1981, moving into the home of tobacco farmer Ivan Barnett, his new wife's father.[5] MurdersOn January 14, 1982, he kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered beautician Jerilyn Stanfield in Cincinnati, Ohio.[6] Henderson then murdered his in-laws, Barnett, his wife Marie, and their eleven-year-old son Clifford in Cherry Fork, Ohio on January 21, 1982.[6] Three days later, he murdered receptionist Lucinda Lee Russell in Charleston, South Carolina.[6] On January 25, 1982, he murdered physician Murray Ferderber and retail clerk Dorothy Wilkinson[7] in Palatka, Florida.[6] On the same date, Henderson sexually assaulted a mother and a daughter in Valdosta, Georgia.[6] Henderson then murdered Cheryl McDonald in Pascagoula, Mississippi on January 27, 1982.[6] Henderson murdered nightclub owner Sam Corrent in Port Allen, Louisiana on January 29, 1982.[6] He then murdered hitchhikers Robert Dawson, Frances Bell Dickey, and Vernon D. Odom[8] in Hernando County, Florida on February 4, 1982.[6] After killing the twelve victims, Henderson turned himself in at a jail in Punta Gorda, Florida on February 6, 1982.[6] Trial and executionDespite his lawyers attempts to keep Henderson out of the electric chair,[9] he was given three death sentences.[10] Henderson's lawyers appealed once to the Supreme Court of the United States for a new trial, but the request was denied.[11] Henderson was executed by electric chair on April 21, 1993, at the Florida State Prison.[12] He was pronounced dead at 7:10 a.m.[12] See also
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