Robert Wagner (serial killer)

Robert Wagner

Robert Wagner in police custody
Background information
Birth name Robert Joe Wagner
Born 28 November 1971 (1971-11-28) (age 40)
Killings
Number of victims: 10
Span of killings 1992–1999
Country Australia
State(s) South Australia
Date apprehended 20 May 1999

Robert Joe Wagner (born 28 November 1971[1]in Parramatta, New South Wales) is an Australian serial killer, currently serving ten consecutive sentences of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for his role in the murder of ten victims of the Snowtown murders. Wagner, driven to murder by his hatred for pedophiles, has been described as being amongst "Australia's worst" serial killers.[2]

Wagner fried and ate the flesh of his final victim, David Johnson.[3] At his sentencing, Wagner rose in the dock and stated:

"Pedophiles were doing terrible things to children. The authorities didn't do anything about it. I decided to take action. I took that action. Thank you."[4]

On 27 September 2002, Wagner pleaded guilty to three charges of murder for the murders of Barry Lane, Fred Brooks and David Johnson. He would plead not guilty to the remaining seven murder charges against him, and eventually be convicted of them, bringing the total number of victims to ten.

References

  1. ^ R v BUNTING & OTHERS (NO 3) No. SCCRM-01-205 (2003) SASC 251 (29 October 2003), Supreme Court of South Australia, 29 October 2003
  2. ^ Worst serial killers may die in jail, Sydney Morning Herald, 9 September 2003
  3. ^ Snowtown killers ate bits of last victim , Adelaide Advertiser, 19 September 2005
  4. ^ Snowtown murderers get life, Lateline, 29 October 2003
Serial killers: John Bunting · Robert Wagner · James Vlassakis · Mark Haydon
Victims: Clinton Trezise · Ray Davies · Michael Gardiner · Barry Lane · Thomas Trevilyan
Gavin Porter · Troy Youde · Fred Brooks · Gary O'Dwyer · Elizabeth Haydon · David Johnson