Cesar Barone
American Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Portland, Oregon
TIME PERIOD
1991-1993
VICTIMS
4 confirmed
Cesar Francesco Barone, born Adolph James Rode, was apprehended in 1993 for the brutal assault and murder of four women in the Portland area between 1991 and 1993. His crimes, characterized by extreme violence, led to his conviction for aggravated murder in 1995, resulting in a death sentence. Barone, who had a history of violent behavior and criminal activity dating back to his adolescence, died of natural causes in the Oregon State Penitentiary on December 24, 2009, while awaiting execution. Significant evidence against Barone included DNA analysis linking him to the victims, as well as his prior criminal history, which established a pattern of violent behavior.
Cesar Barone is believed to have committed his murders as part of a pattern of escalating violence, with some theories suggesting he may have had additional victims beyond the four confirmed cases. There is speculation that his violent tendencies were influenced by a troubled upbringing and substance abuse issues. Additionally, some investigators theorize that his crimes may have connections to other unsolved cases in the region, potentially indicating a broader pattern of serial offenses.
The Sinister Tale of Cesar Barone: A Trail of Death from Florida to Oregon
Early Life and Troubled Beginnings
Born Adolph James Rode on December 4, 1960, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Cesar Barone's life was tumultuous from the start. At age three, his mother left the family, a departure that culminated in divorce the following year. Adolph was raised by his father and a new stepmother, a dynamic that did little to quell his burgeoning delinquency.
By fifteen, Adolph's path took a dark turn when he intruded into the home of Alice Stock, a septuagenarian neighbor. Wielding a knife, he demanded she undress, but Alice's refusal sent him fleeing into the night. This aggressive behavior, coupled with other delinquent acts, led to his placement in a center for troubled youths. Yet, the moment he was freed, Adolph resumed his old habits—violent, antisocial, and increasingly consumed by drugs like Methaqualone, cocaine, and LSD. His criminal activities multiplied, culminating in a 1977 arrest and a two-year prison sentence for burglary and assault. Released in November 1979, he attempted to break into his former stepmother's home, but she managed to escape his grasp.
A New Identity and Continued Crime
In 1980, Adolph rechristened himself Cesar Francesco Barone and embarked on a fresh wave of criminal activity. Convicted for a series of burglaries, he landed in Cross City Prison in Florida. There, he assaulted a female guard in a failed rape attempt, prompting his transfer to Florida State Prison in Starke. It was here that he crossed paths with the infamous serial killer Ted Bundy.
After seven years behind bars, Barone was released in 1987 and relocated to Washington state with a new partner, Kathi Scarbrough, whom he had met while incarcerated. They married in 1988, moving to Hillsboro, Oregon, in search of a new beginning. However, Barone struggled to maintain employment, cycling through six jobs in mere months. Desperate for stability, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1989, earning commendations as a "good shooter" with the M16 and badges in parachuting and first aid. He even participated in the U.S. invasion of Panama, later boasting about killing numerous Panamanians, both military and civilian. Yet, his military career was cut short in 1990 when he was discharged after superiors discovered his criminal past and identity change.
The Murders Begin
Between 1991 and 1993, Cesar Barone unleashed a reign of terror in the Portland area, killing at least four women and sexually assaulting three others. The victims, whose lives were brutally cut short, included:
- April 1991: Margaret Schmidt, 65, in Hillsboro.
- October 1992: Martha Bryant, 41, in Hillsboro.
- December 1992: Chantee Woodman, 23, in Hillsboro.
- January 1993: Betty Williams, 51, in Portland.
Authorities suspected that Barone's true number of victims could be higher, shadowed by the chilling possibility of undiscovered crimes.
Arrest and Conviction
Cesar Barone's criminal saga came to a halt on February 27, 1993, when he was taken into custody. After a harrowing trial, he was sentenced to death in 1995 for his heinous acts. Yet, justice moved slowly. Barone spent the next years on death row at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, where he awaited execution.
The End of a Killer
Barone's life ended not at the hands of the state but through the ravages of cancer. On December 24, 2009, he succumbed to the disease after weeks in the prison's medical section. His death closed the chapter on a life marred by violence and left many unanswered questions and untold secrets.
See Also
- Capital punishment in Oregon
- List of serial killers in the United States
Sources
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US Invasion of Panama
Cesar Barone participates in the US invasion, claiming to have killed many.
First Murder
Cesar Barone murders 65-year-old Margaret Schmidt in Hillsboro.
Second Murder
Cesar Barone kills 41-year-old Martha Bryant in Hillsboro.
Third Murder
Cesar Barone murders 23-year-old Chantee Woodman in Hillsboro.
Fourth Murder
Cesar Barone kills 51-year-old Betty Williams in Portland.
Arrest
Cesar Barone is arrested for the murders and assaults.
Sentenced to Death
Cesar Barone is sentenced to death for the murders.
Death in Prison
Cesar Barone dies of cancer while awaiting execution.
Cesar Francesco Barone, born Adolph James Rode, was apprehended in 1993 for the brutal assault and murder of four women in the Portland area between 1991 and 1993. His crimes, characterized by extreme violence, led to his conviction for aggravated murder in 1995, resulting in a death sentence. Barone, who had a history of violent behavior and criminal activity dating back to his adolescence, died of natural causes in the Oregon State Penitentiary on December 24, 2009, while awaiting execution. Significant evidence against Barone included DNA analysis linking him to the victims, as well as his prior criminal history, which established a pattern of violent behavior.
Cesar Barone is believed to have committed his murders as part of a pattern of escalating violence, with some theories suggesting he may have had additional victims beyond the four confirmed cases. There is speculation that his violent tendencies were influenced by a troubled upbringing and substance abuse issues. Additionally, some investigators theorize that his crimes may have connections to other unsolved cases in the region, potentially indicating a broader pattern of serial offenses.
The Sinister Tale of Cesar Barone: A Trail of Death from Florida to Oregon
Early Life and Troubled Beginnings
Born Adolph James Rode on December 4, 1960, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Cesar Barone's life was tumultuous from the start. At age three, his mother left the family, a departure that culminated in divorce the following year. Adolph was raised by his father and a new stepmother, a dynamic that did little to quell his burgeoning delinquency.
By fifteen, Adolph's path took a dark turn when he intruded into the home of Alice Stock, a septuagenarian neighbor. Wielding a knife, he demanded she undress, but Alice's refusal sent him fleeing into the night. This aggressive behavior, coupled with other delinquent acts, led to his placement in a center for troubled youths. Yet, the moment he was freed, Adolph resumed his old habits—violent, antisocial, and increasingly consumed by drugs like Methaqualone, cocaine, and LSD. His criminal activities multiplied, culminating in a 1977 arrest and a two-year prison sentence for burglary and assault. Released in November 1979, he attempted to break into his former stepmother's home, but she managed to escape his grasp.
A New Identity and Continued Crime
In 1980, Adolph rechristened himself Cesar Francesco Barone and embarked on a fresh wave of criminal activity. Convicted for a series of burglaries, he landed in Cross City Prison in Florida. There, he assaulted a female guard in a failed rape attempt, prompting his transfer to Florida State Prison in Starke. It was here that he crossed paths with the infamous serial killer Ted Bundy.
After seven years behind bars, Barone was released in 1987 and relocated to Washington state with a new partner, Kathi Scarbrough, whom he had met while incarcerated. They married in 1988, moving to Hillsboro, Oregon, in search of a new beginning. However, Barone struggled to maintain employment, cycling through six jobs in mere months. Desperate for stability, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1989, earning commendations as a "good shooter" with the M16 and badges in parachuting and first aid. He even participated in the U.S. invasion of Panama, later boasting about killing numerous Panamanians, both military and civilian. Yet, his military career was cut short in 1990 when he was discharged after superiors discovered his criminal past and identity change.
The Murders Begin
Between 1991 and 1993, Cesar Barone unleashed a reign of terror in the Portland area, killing at least four women and sexually assaulting three others. The victims, whose lives were brutally cut short, included:
- April 1991: Margaret Schmidt, 65, in Hillsboro.
- October 1992: Martha Bryant, 41, in Hillsboro.
- December 1992: Chantee Woodman, 23, in Hillsboro.
- January 1993: Betty Williams, 51, in Portland.
Authorities suspected that Barone's true number of victims could be higher, shadowed by the chilling possibility of undiscovered crimes.
Arrest and Conviction
Cesar Barone's criminal saga came to a halt on February 27, 1993, when he was taken into custody. After a harrowing trial, he was sentenced to death in 1995 for his heinous acts. Yet, justice moved slowly. Barone spent the next years on death row at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, where he awaited execution.
The End of a Killer
Barone's life ended not at the hands of the state but through the ravages of cancer. On December 24, 2009, he succumbed to the disease after weeks in the prison's medical section. His death closed the chapter on a life marred by violence and left many unanswered questions and untold secrets.
See Also
- Capital punishment in Oregon
- List of serial killers in the United States
Sources
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
US Invasion of Panama
Cesar Barone participates in the US invasion, claiming to have killed many.
First Murder
Cesar Barone murders 65-year-old Margaret Schmidt in Hillsboro.
Second Murder
Cesar Barone kills 41-year-old Martha Bryant in Hillsboro.
Third Murder
Cesar Barone murders 23-year-old Chantee Woodman in Hillsboro.
Fourth Murder
Cesar Barone kills 51-year-old Betty Williams in Portland.
Arrest
Cesar Barone is arrested for the murders and assaults.
Sentenced to Death
Cesar Barone is sentenced to death for the murders.
Death in Prison
Cesar Barone dies of cancer while awaiting execution.