Robert Elmer Kleason
Encyclopedia
Robert Elmer Kleasen 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 (Mormon or LDS Church) in the area known as Oak Hill, on the southern outskirts of Austin, Texas
in October 1974. However, after two years on Texas' death row
, an appeal
s court overturned Kleasen's conviction, ruling that the search of his home was illegal and that key evidence had to be excluded.
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 Kleasen for dinner.
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 band-saw in the taxidermy shop where Kleasen worked. Prosecutors at Kleasen's 1975 murder trial alleged he dismembered the victims and buried the remains.
Robert Kleasen 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 Kleasen'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, Kleasen moved to Barton-upon-Humber
, Humberside
, England
. He married local woman Marie Longley, and began to amass a huge gun collection. 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
. Kleasen 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. Before he could be extradited, however, Kleasen died on April 21, 2003 of heart failure. He was 70 years old.
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
.
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon or LDS Church) in the area known as Oak Hill, on the southern outskirts of Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
in October 1974. However, after two years on Texas' death row
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
, an appeal
Appeal
An appeal is a petition for review of a case that has been decided by a court of law. The petition is made to a higher court for the purpose of overturning the lower court's decision....
s court overturned Kleasen's conviction, ruling that the search of his home was illegal and that key evidence had to be excluded.
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 Kleasen for dinner.
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 band-saw in the taxidermy shop where Kleasen worked. Prosecutors at Kleasen's 1975 murder trial alleged he dismembered the victims and buried the remains.
Robert Kleasen upon his release from prison stayed a brief time in a Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
mission. The local police had to be posted near the mission for Kleasen'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, Kleasen moved to Barton-upon-Humber
Barton-upon-Humber
Barton-upon-Humber or Barton is a small town and civil parish in North Lincolnshire, England located on the south bank of the Humber Estuary, and at the end of the Humber Bridge. It lies east of Leeds, southwest of Hull and north northeast of the county town of Lincoln...
, Humberside
Humberside
Humberside was a non-metropolitan and ceremonial county in Northern England from 1 April 1974 until 1 April 1996. It was composed of land from either side of the Humber Estuary, created from portions of the East and West ridings of Yorkshire and parts of Lindsey, Lincolnshire...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He married local woman Marie Longley, and began to amass a huge gun collection. 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
Her Majesty's Prison Service
Her Majesty's Prison Service is a part of the National Offender Management Service of the Government of the United Kingdom tasked with managing most of the prisons within England and Wales...
. Kleasen had also previously served time in a U.S. federal prison for firearms violations and in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
for assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
.
In 2001 he faced extradition
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
to the US after DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
analysis and other forensic tools were used to obtain new evidence. Before he could be extradited, however, Kleasen died on April 21, 2003 of heart failure. He was 70 years old.
Ken Driggs wrote a book about the murders, Evil Among Us: The Texas Mormon Missionary Murders, published by Signature Books
Signature Books
Signature Books is a press specializing in subjects related to Utah, Mormonism, and Western Americana. The company was founded in 1980 by George D...
in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
.