Robert Biehler
American Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Los Angeles, California
TIME PERIOD
1966-1974
VICTIMS
4 confirmed
Robert Leroy Biehler, an American serial killer and contract killer, committed four murders in various neighborhoods of Los Angeles, California, between 1966 and 1974, primarily to cover up previous crimes or as part of contract killings. His first known offense occurred on December 22, 1966, when he shot and killed Julia Cook and her 15-year-old son, Kenneth, in North Hollywood. Biehler was apprehended on December 12, 1975, and subsequently convicted of four counts of first-degree murder, receiving four consecutive life sentences due to the Supreme Court ruling in Furman v. Georgia, which prevented the death penalty. He served his sentence until his death in San Quentin State Prison on January 10, 1993. Significant evidence included witness testimonies and forensic links to the crime scenes, which ultimately led to his conviction despite initial challenges in gathering sufficient evidence for the murders.
Robert Biehler is believed to have killed four people in Los Angeles between 1966 and 1974, with some theorizing that these murders were either to cover up previous crimes or were part of contract killings. There is speculation that his criminal activities were part of a larger network of organized crime, given his history of involvement in burglary and other offenses. Additionally, some believe that his inability to receive the death penalty due to the Supreme Court ruling in Furman v. Georgia may have influenced his later actions and the severity of his crimes.
The Lethal Legacy of Robert Leroy Biehler
Introduction
In the annals of American crime, certain names evoke a chilling sense of dread. Robert Leroy Biehler, born on August 5, 1934, in Chase, Kansas, is one such name. Known as both a serial killer and a contract killer, Biehler left a bloody trail across Los Angeles, California, from 1966 to 1974. Despite his heinous acts, Biehler escaped the death penalty due to the landmark Furman v. Georgia decision, instead receiving four consecutive life sentences. This narrative delves into the grim saga of Biehler’s life, crimes, and eventual downfall.
Early Criminal Ventures
Biehler’s descent into crime began early. On February 25, 1956, he and two accomplices, Louis Evangelisti, 22, and Kay G. Mills, 18, invaded the Pasadena home of Paul and Marguerite Troutner. The trio threatened Paul Troutner’s life unless he revealed the location of his money. Bound with electric cords and gagged with adhesive tape, the Troutners watched helplessly as $1,500 in cash and valuables were stolen. The crime’s proceeds, used to purchase a motorcycle, led to the trio’s arrest. Biehler and his partners each received a short prison sentence.
Upon release in the late 1950s, Biehler continued his criminal exploits. He joined an organized burglary ring that netted $10,000 from a bank in 1960, resulting in another stint at the California Institution for Men. Paroled in August 1966, his freedom would soon be marred by bloodshed.
The Rampage Begins
Just months after his parole, on December 22, 1966, Biehler sought out Julia Cook in her North Hollywood home. Cook, a former associate with a criminal record, threatened to expose Biehler’s involvement in a prostitution ring. Fearing exposure, he held Cook and her 15-year-old son, Kenneth, at gunpoint before executing them with two shots each to the head. Although initially detained with Morton Molin for parole violations, Biehler evaded murder charges due to insufficient evidence. Instead, he was jailed for violating parole.
After his release in the early 1970s, Biehler resumed his criminal activities, focusing on burglaries and pimping. In a deadly encounter on October 14, 1973, with Michael Rodney Coveny, a retired paratrooper, Biehler exacted revenge for a missed $800 cocaine debt. Luring Coveny into a secluded spot under the guise of meeting another supplier, Biehler shot him with a shotgun. Coveny’s body, buried in a shallow grave in the Angeles National Forest, would later be uncovered by authorities.
A Contract to Kill
The following year, Biehler accepted a contract from Maida Sue Ellington to kill her roommate, Carole E. Phillips. Phillips, a roller derby skater, had threatened to expose Ellington’s criminal dealings. Disguised as a plumber, Biehler shot Phillips four times in the head at their Lake View Terrace apartment. Remarkably, she survived, prompting Ellington to pay for another attempt. On Christmas Eve, Biehler ambushed Phillips outside a North Hollywood bar, finishing the job with two shots to her eye and ear, then two more into her body.
Legal Reckoning
Ellington’s arrest on conspiracy to murder charges set the stage for Biehler’s downfall. Despite her initial claims of innocence, evidence revealed her role in orchestrating Phillips’ murder. Sentenced to life imprisonment at the California Institution for Women, Ellington’s conviction preceded Biehler’s arrest. On December 12, during a prison visit, Biehler was apprehended by LAPD officers, now linked to multiple murders, including Coveny’s, whose body had been discovered days earlier.
The trial was fraught with challenges. Prosecutors sought an extension on Biehler’s detention, citing threats to witnesses. Despite objections from Biehler’s attorney, Gerald Cohen, the motion was granted. Prosecutors pursued the death penalty, citing numerous aggravating factors. However, Biehler’s ex-wife, Janet, testified against him, revealing she had fabricated an alibi for the 1966 murders under duress. Attempts for a mistrial, citing jury biases, failed. Donald Wager, one of Biehler’s attorneys, even faced jail time for contempt of court after refusing to disclose client communications.
Biehler, maintaining his innocence, attributed Coveny’s death to his wife. Despite his claims, the jury was unconvinced. After five days of deliberation, Biehler was found guilty on all counts. Justice Harry V. Peetris, constrained by existing statutes, sentenced him to four consecutive life terms, lamenting the absence of the death penalty or life without parole options.
Imprisonment and Legacy
Biehler’s incarceration at San Quentin State Prison concluded with his death from cancer on January 10, 1993. Despite the calls for judicial reform and the eventual change in sentencing laws, Biehler’s fate remained unchanged. His lethal legacy persists, a stark reminder of the dark chapters in Los Angeles' history.
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First Recorded Crime
Biehler and accomplices commit a robbery, tying up victims.
First Murders
Biehler murders Julia Cook and her son to prevent exposure.
Coveny Murder
Biehler kills Michael Coveny over a drug debt.
Phillips Murder
Biehler attempts to murder Carole Phillips, succeeding on second attempt.
Arrest
Biehler is arrested during a visit to his ex-wife in prison.
Conviction
Biehler is convicted of four counts of murder.
Sentencing
Biehler receives four consecutive life terms instead of death penalty.
Death
Biehler dies in prison from cancer.
Robert Leroy Biehler, an American serial killer and contract killer, committed four murders in various neighborhoods of Los Angeles, California, between 1966 and 1974, primarily to cover up previous crimes or as part of contract killings. His first known offense occurred on December 22, 1966, when he shot and killed Julia Cook and her 15-year-old son, Kenneth, in North Hollywood. Biehler was apprehended on December 12, 1975, and subsequently convicted of four counts of first-degree murder, receiving four consecutive life sentences due to the Supreme Court ruling in Furman v. Georgia, which prevented the death penalty. He served his sentence until his death in San Quentin State Prison on January 10, 1993. Significant evidence included witness testimonies and forensic links to the crime scenes, which ultimately led to his conviction despite initial challenges in gathering sufficient evidence for the murders.
Robert Biehler is believed to have killed four people in Los Angeles between 1966 and 1974, with some theorizing that these murders were either to cover up previous crimes or were part of contract killings. There is speculation that his criminal activities were part of a larger network of organized crime, given his history of involvement in burglary and other offenses. Additionally, some believe that his inability to receive the death penalty due to the Supreme Court ruling in Furman v. Georgia may have influenced his later actions and the severity of his crimes.
The Lethal Legacy of Robert Leroy Biehler
Introduction
In the annals of American crime, certain names evoke a chilling sense of dread. Robert Leroy Biehler, born on August 5, 1934, in Chase, Kansas, is one such name. Known as both a serial killer and a contract killer, Biehler left a bloody trail across Los Angeles, California, from 1966 to 1974. Despite his heinous acts, Biehler escaped the death penalty due to the landmark Furman v. Georgia decision, instead receiving four consecutive life sentences. This narrative delves into the grim saga of Biehler’s life, crimes, and eventual downfall.
Early Criminal Ventures
Biehler’s descent into crime began early. On February 25, 1956, he and two accomplices, Louis Evangelisti, 22, and Kay G. Mills, 18, invaded the Pasadena home of Paul and Marguerite Troutner. The trio threatened Paul Troutner’s life unless he revealed the location of his money. Bound with electric cords and gagged with adhesive tape, the Troutners watched helplessly as $1,500 in cash and valuables were stolen. The crime’s proceeds, used to purchase a motorcycle, led to the trio’s arrest. Biehler and his partners each received a short prison sentence.
Upon release in the late 1950s, Biehler continued his criminal exploits. He joined an organized burglary ring that netted $10,000 from a bank in 1960, resulting in another stint at the California Institution for Men. Paroled in August 1966, his freedom would soon be marred by bloodshed.
The Rampage Begins
Just months after his parole, on December 22, 1966, Biehler sought out Julia Cook in her North Hollywood home. Cook, a former associate with a criminal record, threatened to expose Biehler’s involvement in a prostitution ring. Fearing exposure, he held Cook and her 15-year-old son, Kenneth, at gunpoint before executing them with two shots each to the head. Although initially detained with Morton Molin for parole violations, Biehler evaded murder charges due to insufficient evidence. Instead, he was jailed for violating parole.
After his release in the early 1970s, Biehler resumed his criminal activities, focusing on burglaries and pimping. In a deadly encounter on October 14, 1973, with Michael Rodney Coveny, a retired paratrooper, Biehler exacted revenge for a missed $800 cocaine debt. Luring Coveny into a secluded spot under the guise of meeting another supplier, Biehler shot him with a shotgun. Coveny’s body, buried in a shallow grave in the Angeles National Forest, would later be uncovered by authorities.
A Contract to Kill
The following year, Biehler accepted a contract from Maida Sue Ellington to kill her roommate, Carole E. Phillips. Phillips, a roller derby skater, had threatened to expose Ellington’s criminal dealings. Disguised as a plumber, Biehler shot Phillips four times in the head at their Lake View Terrace apartment. Remarkably, she survived, prompting Ellington to pay for another attempt. On Christmas Eve, Biehler ambushed Phillips outside a North Hollywood bar, finishing the job with two shots to her eye and ear, then two more into her body.
Legal Reckoning
Ellington’s arrest on conspiracy to murder charges set the stage for Biehler’s downfall. Despite her initial claims of innocence, evidence revealed her role in orchestrating Phillips’ murder. Sentenced to life imprisonment at the California Institution for Women, Ellington’s conviction preceded Biehler’s arrest. On December 12, during a prison visit, Biehler was apprehended by LAPD officers, now linked to multiple murders, including Coveny’s, whose body had been discovered days earlier.
The trial was fraught with challenges. Prosecutors sought an extension on Biehler’s detention, citing threats to witnesses. Despite objections from Biehler’s attorney, Gerald Cohen, the motion was granted. Prosecutors pursued the death penalty, citing numerous aggravating factors. However, Biehler’s ex-wife, Janet, testified against him, revealing she had fabricated an alibi for the 1966 murders under duress. Attempts for a mistrial, citing jury biases, failed. Donald Wager, one of Biehler’s attorneys, even faced jail time for contempt of court after refusing to disclose client communications.
Biehler, maintaining his innocence, attributed Coveny’s death to his wife. Despite his claims, the jury was unconvinced. After five days of deliberation, Biehler was found guilty on all counts. Justice Harry V. Peetris, constrained by existing statutes, sentenced him to four consecutive life terms, lamenting the absence of the death penalty or life without parole options.
Imprisonment and Legacy
Biehler’s incarceration at San Quentin State Prison concluded with his death from cancer on January 10, 1993. Despite the calls for judicial reform and the eventual change in sentencing laws, Biehler’s fate remained unchanged. His lethal legacy persists, a stark reminder of the dark chapters in Los Angeles' history.
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...
First Recorded Crime
Biehler and accomplices commit a robbery, tying up victims.
First Murders
Biehler murders Julia Cook and her son to prevent exposure.
Coveny Murder
Biehler kills Michael Coveny over a drug debt.
Phillips Murder
Biehler attempts to murder Carole Phillips, succeeding on second attempt.
Arrest
Biehler is arrested during a visit to his ex-wife in prison.
Conviction
Biehler is convicted of four counts of murder.
Sentencing
Biehler receives four consecutive life terms instead of death penalty.
Death
Biehler dies in prison from cancer.