Robert Elmer Kleason

Robert Elmer Kleason (September 20, 1934 – April 21, 2003) was an American who was convicted and sentenced to death in 1975 for the murder of two missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in the area known as Oak Hill, on the southern outskirts of Austin, Texas in October 1974.[1][2] However, after two years on Texas' death row, an appeals court overturned Kleasen's conviction in November 1977, ruling that the search of his home was illegal and that key evidence had to be excluded.[1]

The police investigation led to the scenario that the missionaries Gary Darley (20) and Mark Fischer (19) were shot dead after having agreed to meet Kleason for dinner.[1]

Police discovered Fischer's bloody watch and bullet-punctured name tag in Kleasen's trailer but bodies never were found. Investigators also discovered blood and tissue on a bandsaw in the taxidermy shop where Kleasen worked. Prosecutors at Kleasen's 1975 murder trial alleged he dismembered the victims and buried the remains.

Robert Kleason upon his release from prison stayed a brief time in a Buffalo, New York mission. The local police had to be posted near the mission for Kleason's protection. He only congregated with the other people living in the mission during church services prior to eating. During this time, the local Buffalo TV channels updated the story every night on their news broadcasts.

In 1990, Kleason moved to Barton-upon-Humber, Humberside, England. He married local woman Marie Longley, and began to amass a huge gun collection.[2] When local authorities became aware of the gun collection and his legal problems, they prosecuted. He was given a three-year prison term in 2000 for possession of illegal firearms and munitions and began to serve time in an English prison. Kleason had also previously served time in a U.S. federal prison for firearms violations and in New York for assault.

In 2001 he faced extradition to the US after DNA analysis and other forensic tools were used to obtain new evidence.[2] Kleasen fought extradition, due to England's objection to the death penalty. Texas promised not to seek the death penalty, but England was unsure that they would honor their assurances.[1] Before he could be extradited, Kleason died on April 21, 2003 of heart failure. He was 68 years old.[3] His wife found out about his criminal background and at one point, Kleason threatened his wife if she ever tried to leave he would kill her. Being to scared to leave she stayed only to come up with an escape plan with a close friend.

Ken Driggs wrote a book about the murders, Evil Among Us: The Texas Mormon Missionary Murders, published by Signature Books in Salt Lake City, Utah.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Larsen, Kent (November 28, 2001). "Kleason Tells Court He Fears US Death Penalty". Mormon News. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Prisoner faces new murder charges". BBC News. August 9, 2001. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Mormon murders suspect dies". BBC News. 22 April 2003.

Further reading

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