Robert Alton Harris
California Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Murder
LOCATION
San Diego, California
TIME PERIOD
1978
VICTIMS
2 confirmed
On July 5, 1978, Robert Alton Harris, along with his younger brother, abducted two 16-year-old boys, John Mayeski and Michael Baker, in San Diego, California. The brothers forced the victims to drive to a remote area, where they were murdered before using the stolen vehicle to commit a bank robbery. Harris was apprehended shortly after the robbery and faced multiple charges, including first-degree murder, kidnapping, and robbery. He was convicted on March 6, 1979, and sentenced to death, ultimately being executed by gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison on April 21, 1992, marking California's first execution since 1967. Significant evidence included witness testimonies and the recovered vehicle used in the crimes, with one of the arresting officers, Steve Baker, later discovering that one of the victims was his son.
Robert Alton Harris is believed to have committed his crimes due to a troubled upbringing marked by abuse and abandonment, which some theorize contributed to his violent tendencies. There is speculation that his relationship with his brother may have played a role in the planning and execution of the murders, as they committed the crimes together. Additionally, some believe that his quick arrest following the bank robbery and the emotional involvement of one of the arresting officers, whose son was a victim, may have influenced the public perception of the case and the severity of his punishment.
The Tragic Tale of Robert Alton Harris
The story of Robert Alton Harris, a man whose life spiraled into a series of criminal acts culminating in the brutal murder of two teenage boys, is a haunting narrative of violence, abuse, and ultimately, justice. Born on January 15, 1953, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Harris's life was tainted from the start by abuse and neglect, setting him on a dark path that would end in his execution at San Quentin State Prison on April 21, 1992, marking the first execution in California since 1967.
Early Life and Criminal Beginnings
Robert Alton Harris was the fifth of nine children born to Kenneth and Evelyn Harris. Kenneth, a decorated World War II veteran, and Evelyn were both alcoholics. This volatile environment led to Robert being born two months premature, reportedly due to a violent incident where Kenneth kicked Evelyn in the abdomen. As a child, Robert was the target of abuse, particularly from his father, who suspected him of being the product of an affair.
The Harris family relocated to Visalia, California, in 1962 after Kenneth’s discharge from the Army. The following years were turbulent, with Kenneth imprisoned multiple times for sexually abusing his daughters. This left the family to lead a migrant lifestyle across the San Joaquin Valley.
By age 10, Harris had his first run-in with law enforcement. At 13, he was sent to juvenile detention for car theft, where he endured further trauma, including sexual assault. At 14, abandoned by his mother in Sacramento, Harris fended for himself, eventually making his way to Oklahoma to live with siblings. His criminal activities escalated with another car theft leading to an arrest in Florida, where he spent several years in juvenile detention.
In 1973, Harris married and had a son, Robert Jr., but his life of crime persisted. In 1975, while living in Imperial County, Harris brutally killed James Wheeler, his brother's roommate, in a sadistic attack. Convicted of voluntary manslaughter, Harris was imprisoned in San Luis Obispo. During this time, his wife divorced him, and he was paroled in January 1978.
The San Diego Murders
In mid-1978, Harris, then 25, enlisted his younger brother Daniel, 18, to assist in a bank robbery. Daniel acquired firearms by stealing them from a neighbor in Visalia, and the duo traveled to San Diego, preparing for their heist by practicing in a secluded area.
On July 5, 1978, they encountered John Mayeski and Michael Baker, both 16, in a supermarket parking lot in Mira Mesa. The boys, celebrating Mayeski's new driver’s license with cheeseburgers, were forced into Mayeski's car by the Harris brothers. Under the guise of needing the car for a bank robbery, they drove to Miramar Lake.
At the lake, the brothers ordered the boys to kneel and pray, then coldly executed them. Returning to their Mira Mesa home, the Harris brothers finished the boys' cheeseburgers, with Robert boasting about the murders.
The brothers swiftly moved forward with their plan, robbing the San Diego Trust and Savings Bank across from the abduction site and fleeing with $2,000. However, a witness followed them to their home and alerted the police. Among the arresting officers was Steven Baker, who, unbeknownst to him at the time, was arresting his son's murderers.
Conviction and Execution
Charged with multiple felonies, including auto theft, kidnapping, murder, and burglary, Harris faced trial. He pleaded guilty to bank robbery, receiving a 25-year sentence. Convicted of first-degree murder with special circumstances and kidnapping on March 6, 1979, Harris was sentenced to death. The trial revealed Harris's history of unprovoked violence, including a previous murder and an instance of prison rape.
Daniel Harris received a six-year sentence for kidnapping and was released in 1983. An appeal for clemency to then-Governor Pete Wilson was denied, as Wilson acknowledged Harris's troubled childhood but refused to absolve his adult crimes.
Harris's death sentence was upheld by the California Supreme Court in 1981. Although the Ninth Circuit Court initially granted Harris a reprieve in 1982, the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated his death sentence in 1984. Subsequent stays of execution were issued and vacated amidst legal battles over the constitutionality of the gas chamber and Harris's mental state, culminating in the final decision to proceed with the execution.
On April 21, 1992, Harris was executed in San Quentin's gas chamber. His final meal consisted of fried chicken, pizza, jelly beans, Pepsi, and cigarettes. As he faced death, Harris uttered, "You can be a king or a street sweeper, but everybody dances with the grim reaper," echoing a line from the film "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey."
Among the witnesses was Steve Baker, to whom Harris mouthed an apology. Baker acknowledged the gesture with a nod, a silent exchange marking the end of a devastating chapter.
Sources
For further reading and verification of the details in this narrative, please refer to the original Wikipedia article on Robert Alton Harris here.
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Murders of Two Teenagers
Robert and Daniel Harris kidnap and murder John Mayeski and Michael Baker in San Diego.
Bank Robbery
The Harris brothers rob a bank using the car stolen from the murdered teenagers.
Arrest of Harris Brothers
Robert and Daniel Harris are arrested less than an hour after the bank robbery.
Conviction and Sentencing
Robert Harris is convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.
Death Sentence Reimposed
The U.S. Supreme Court reaffirms Harris' death sentence after a series of appeals.
Execution Stayed
A federal appeals court issues a stay of execution for Harris, citing childhood brain damage.
Execution of Robert Harris
Robert Alton Harris is executed in the gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison.
Final Words
Harris delivers his final words before execution, referencing life and death.
On July 5, 1978, Robert Alton Harris, along with his younger brother, abducted two 16-year-old boys, John Mayeski and Michael Baker, in San Diego, California. The brothers forced the victims to drive to a remote area, where they were murdered before using the stolen vehicle to commit a bank robbery. Harris was apprehended shortly after the robbery and faced multiple charges, including first-degree murder, kidnapping, and robbery. He was convicted on March 6, 1979, and sentenced to death, ultimately being executed by gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison on April 21, 1992, marking California's first execution since 1967. Significant evidence included witness testimonies and the recovered vehicle used in the crimes, with one of the arresting officers, Steve Baker, later discovering that one of the victims was his son.
Robert Alton Harris is believed to have committed his crimes due to a troubled upbringing marked by abuse and abandonment, which some theorize contributed to his violent tendencies. There is speculation that his relationship with his brother may have played a role in the planning and execution of the murders, as they committed the crimes together. Additionally, some believe that his quick arrest following the bank robbery and the emotional involvement of one of the arresting officers, whose son was a victim, may have influenced the public perception of the case and the severity of his punishment.
The Tragic Tale of Robert Alton Harris
The story of Robert Alton Harris, a man whose life spiraled into a series of criminal acts culminating in the brutal murder of two teenage boys, is a haunting narrative of violence, abuse, and ultimately, justice. Born on January 15, 1953, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Harris's life was tainted from the start by abuse and neglect, setting him on a dark path that would end in his execution at San Quentin State Prison on April 21, 1992, marking the first execution in California since 1967.
Early Life and Criminal Beginnings
Robert Alton Harris was the fifth of nine children born to Kenneth and Evelyn Harris. Kenneth, a decorated World War II veteran, and Evelyn were both alcoholics. This volatile environment led to Robert being born two months premature, reportedly due to a violent incident where Kenneth kicked Evelyn in the abdomen. As a child, Robert was the target of abuse, particularly from his father, who suspected him of being the product of an affair.
The Harris family relocated to Visalia, California, in 1962 after Kenneth’s discharge from the Army. The following years were turbulent, with Kenneth imprisoned multiple times for sexually abusing his daughters. This left the family to lead a migrant lifestyle across the San Joaquin Valley.
By age 10, Harris had his first run-in with law enforcement. At 13, he was sent to juvenile detention for car theft, where he endured further trauma, including sexual assault. At 14, abandoned by his mother in Sacramento, Harris fended for himself, eventually making his way to Oklahoma to live with siblings. His criminal activities escalated with another car theft leading to an arrest in Florida, where he spent several years in juvenile detention.
In 1973, Harris married and had a son, Robert Jr., but his life of crime persisted. In 1975, while living in Imperial County, Harris brutally killed James Wheeler, his brother's roommate, in a sadistic attack. Convicted of voluntary manslaughter, Harris was imprisoned in San Luis Obispo. During this time, his wife divorced him, and he was paroled in January 1978.
The San Diego Murders
In mid-1978, Harris, then 25, enlisted his younger brother Daniel, 18, to assist in a bank robbery. Daniel acquired firearms by stealing them from a neighbor in Visalia, and the duo traveled to San Diego, preparing for their heist by practicing in a secluded area.
On July 5, 1978, they encountered John Mayeski and Michael Baker, both 16, in a supermarket parking lot in Mira Mesa. The boys, celebrating Mayeski's new driver’s license with cheeseburgers, were forced into Mayeski's car by the Harris brothers. Under the guise of needing the car for a bank robbery, they drove to Miramar Lake.
At the lake, the brothers ordered the boys to kneel and pray, then coldly executed them. Returning to their Mira Mesa home, the Harris brothers finished the boys' cheeseburgers, with Robert boasting about the murders.
The brothers swiftly moved forward with their plan, robbing the San Diego Trust and Savings Bank across from the abduction site and fleeing with $2,000. However, a witness followed them to their home and alerted the police. Among the arresting officers was Steven Baker, who, unbeknownst to him at the time, was arresting his son's murderers.
Conviction and Execution
Charged with multiple felonies, including auto theft, kidnapping, murder, and burglary, Harris faced trial. He pleaded guilty to bank robbery, receiving a 25-year sentence. Convicted of first-degree murder with special circumstances and kidnapping on March 6, 1979, Harris was sentenced to death. The trial revealed Harris's history of unprovoked violence, including a previous murder and an instance of prison rape.
Daniel Harris received a six-year sentence for kidnapping and was released in 1983. An appeal for clemency to then-Governor Pete Wilson was denied, as Wilson acknowledged Harris's troubled childhood but refused to absolve his adult crimes.
Harris's death sentence was upheld by the California Supreme Court in 1981. Although the Ninth Circuit Court initially granted Harris a reprieve in 1982, the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated his death sentence in 1984. Subsequent stays of execution were issued and vacated amidst legal battles over the constitutionality of the gas chamber and Harris's mental state, culminating in the final decision to proceed with the execution.
On April 21, 1992, Harris was executed in San Quentin's gas chamber. His final meal consisted of fried chicken, pizza, jelly beans, Pepsi, and cigarettes. As he faced death, Harris uttered, "You can be a king or a street sweeper, but everybody dances with the grim reaper," echoing a line from the film "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey."
Among the witnesses was Steve Baker, to whom Harris mouthed an apology. Baker acknowledged the gesture with a nod, a silent exchange marking the end of a devastating chapter.
Sources
For further reading and verification of the details in this narrative, please refer to the original Wikipedia article on Robert Alton Harris here.
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
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Murders of Two Teenagers
Robert and Daniel Harris kidnap and murder John Mayeski and Michael Baker in San Diego.
Bank Robbery
The Harris brothers rob a bank using the car stolen from the murdered teenagers.
Arrest of Harris Brothers
Robert and Daniel Harris are arrested less than an hour after the bank robbery.
Conviction and Sentencing
Robert Harris is convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.
Death Sentence Reimposed
The U.S. Supreme Court reaffirms Harris' death sentence after a series of appeals.
Execution Stayed
A federal appeals court issues a stay of execution for Harris, citing childhood brain damage.
Execution of Robert Harris
Robert Alton Harris is executed in the gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison.
Final Words
Harris delivers his final words before execution, referencing life and death.