Robert Fry (Murderer)
American Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Farmington, New Mexico
TIME PERIOD
1996-2000
VICTIMS
4 confirmed
Robert Fry, an American serial killer born on August 18, 1973, was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder, including the 2000 murder of Betty Lee in San Juan County, New Mexico, where she was bludgeoned and stabbed after accepting a ride from Fry and accomplice Leslie Engh. Fry's criminal activities spanned from 1996 to 2000, during which he was linked to three additional murders, including those of Donald Tsosie, Matthew Trecker, and Joseph Fleming, through DNA evidence, shoe imprints, and tire tracks. Initially sentenced to death in 2002, Fry's sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in June 2019 following the repeal of the death penalty in New Mexico, rendering him ineligible for parole for 120 years. Engh pleaded guilty to her involvement and received a life sentence, while Fry remains incarcerated at the Penitentiary of New Mexico.
Robert Fry is believed to have committed multiple murders between 1996 and 2000, with speculation that he may have had additional undiscovered victims. Some investigators theorize that Fry's violent behavior escalated over time, leading to the brutal nature of his crimes. There is also a belief that Fry and his accomplice, Leslie Engh, may have targeted vulnerable individuals, as evidenced by their initial approach to Betty Lee at a payphone.
The Dark Trail of Robert Fry: A Relentless Murderer
Early Life and Background
Robert Fry was born on August 18, 1973, in Farmington, New Mexico. This unassuming beginning belied the dark path his life would take, marking him as one of New Mexico's most notorious serial killers. Fry's reign of terror spanned from 1996 to 2000, leaving four people dead in its wake. Despite the grim nature of his crimes, the subsequent legal proceedings would become a significant part of New Mexico's criminal justice history.
The Murders
Fry's string of murders began on a chilling note on November 28, 1996, when Joseph Fleming, a 25-year-old, and Matthew Trecker, an 18-year-old, were brutally murdered in Farmington. These initial killings set the stage for Fry's violent spree. On April 1998, Donald Tsosie, aged 40, became another victim in San Juan County. The terror continued into June 2000, with the murder of Betty Lee, aged 36, in the same county.
The murder of Betty Lee marked a turning point in the investigation. Fry, along with his accomplice Leslie Engh, encountered Lee at a payphone. Offering her a ride, they instead led her to her death, attempting to rape her before bludgeoning and stabbing her. It was this crime that ultimately unraveled the tangled web of Fry's violent acts.
The Investigation and Arrest
The police investigation into Betty Lee's murder was methodical and thorough. Detectives found critical evidence linking Fry and Engh to the crime scene. DNA evidence, along with shoe imprints and tire tracks, provided undeniable proof of their involvement. This breakthrough not only solved Lee's murder but also helped law enforcement connect Fry to the previous murders of Tsosie, Trecker, and Fleming.
The arrest of Fry and Engh marked the beginning of a prolonged legal battle. In 2002, Fry was convicted of Betty Lee's murder and sentenced to death. This was just the beginning of his legal woes. He received a life sentence for the murder of Tsosie and, in 2005, two additional life sentences for the murders of Trecker and Fleming. Alongside these murder charges, Fry faced convictions for larceny, tampering with evidence, and witness intimidation in connection with the double murder of Trecker and Fleming.
Leslie Engh, Fry's accomplice, did not escape justice. He pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree kidnapping related to the deaths of Lee and Tsosie. Engh was sentenced to life in prison, cementing his fate alongside Fry.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Despite New Mexico's repeal of the death penalty in 2009, Fry and another inmate, Timothy Allen, remained on death row. Their fate would take another turn in June 2019 when the New Mexico Supreme Court vacated their death sentences, commuting them to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Although New Mexico had abolished the death penalty, the court's decision ensured that Fry would spend the rest of his life behind bars, as his four consecutive life terms rendered him ineligible for parole for 120 years.
Timothy Allen, another notorious figure, received an additional 25 years to his life sentence. Convicted of the 1994 strangulation murder of 17-year-old Sandra Phillips, Allen's heinous acts also included kidnapping and rape. Under New Mexico law, Allen must serve at least 55 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Conclusion
Robert Fry's story is a chilling reminder of the depths of human depravity and the relentless pursuit of justice. His four-year murder spree left an indelible mark on New Mexico, forever altering the lives of his victims' families and shaping the state's approach to capital punishment. As Fry remains imprisoned at the Penitentiary of New Mexico, his case continues to be a significant chapter in the annals of American true crime.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Robert Fry (murderer)
- Lee, Morgan. "New Mexico sets aside final 2 death sentences." The Associated Press, June 28, 2019.
- "STATE v. FRY (2005)." FindLaw.
- "State v. Fry." Vlex.
- "Convicted Murderer Faces Trial For More Killings." KOAT-TV, January 5, 2005.
- Haywood, Phaedra. "Lawyers plead for lives of last 2 death row prisoners." The Santa Fe New Mexican, April 10, 2018.
- "Death Row Inmate Found Guilty Of 1996 Double Murder." KOAT-TV, January 21, 2005.
- "Robert Fry will stay on death row." KOAT-TV, August 8, 2013.
- "Bobby Fry Archives." Forensic Files Now, June 14, 2018.
- Kellogg, Joshua. "Convicted murders have death sentence vacated by NM Supreme Court." Iowa City Press-Citizen.
- Gorman, Steve. "Life in prison ordered for last two death row inmates in New Mexico." Reuters, June 28, 2019.
- "Man resentenced to life in prison in 1994 killing." The Associated Press, October 11, 2019.
- Barker, Larry. "Killer walks halls as execution stalled." KRQE, October 31, 2013.
- "Offender Information." New Mexico Corrections Department.
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First Double Murder
Robert Fry commits the murders of Joseph Fleming and Matthew Trecker in Farmington.
Third Murder
Fry murders Donald Tsosie in San Juan County.
Fourth Murder
Fry and accomplice Leslie Engh murder Betty Lee after offering her a ride.
Conviction for Lee's Murder
Fry is convicted of Betty Lee's murder and sentenced to death.
Additional Convictions
Fry receives life sentences for the murders of Tsosie, Trecker, and Fleming.
Death Sentence Upheld
A judge upholds Fry's death sentence.
Death Sentence Commuted
New Mexico Supreme Court vacates Fry's death sentence, commuting it to life imprisonment.
Robert Fry, an American serial killer born on August 18, 1973, was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder, including the 2000 murder of Betty Lee in San Juan County, New Mexico, where she was bludgeoned and stabbed after accepting a ride from Fry and accomplice Leslie Engh. Fry's criminal activities spanned from 1996 to 2000, during which he was linked to three additional murders, including those of Donald Tsosie, Matthew Trecker, and Joseph Fleming, through DNA evidence, shoe imprints, and tire tracks. Initially sentenced to death in 2002, Fry's sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in June 2019 following the repeal of the death penalty in New Mexico, rendering him ineligible for parole for 120 years. Engh pleaded guilty to her involvement and received a life sentence, while Fry remains incarcerated at the Penitentiary of New Mexico.
Robert Fry is believed to have committed multiple murders between 1996 and 2000, with speculation that he may have had additional undiscovered victims. Some investigators theorize that Fry's violent behavior escalated over time, leading to the brutal nature of his crimes. There is also a belief that Fry and his accomplice, Leslie Engh, may have targeted vulnerable individuals, as evidenced by their initial approach to Betty Lee at a payphone.
The Dark Trail of Robert Fry: A Relentless Murderer
Early Life and Background
Robert Fry was born on August 18, 1973, in Farmington, New Mexico. This unassuming beginning belied the dark path his life would take, marking him as one of New Mexico's most notorious serial killers. Fry's reign of terror spanned from 1996 to 2000, leaving four people dead in its wake. Despite the grim nature of his crimes, the subsequent legal proceedings would become a significant part of New Mexico's criminal justice history.
The Murders
Fry's string of murders began on a chilling note on November 28, 1996, when Joseph Fleming, a 25-year-old, and Matthew Trecker, an 18-year-old, were brutally murdered in Farmington. These initial killings set the stage for Fry's violent spree. On April 1998, Donald Tsosie, aged 40, became another victim in San Juan County. The terror continued into June 2000, with the murder of Betty Lee, aged 36, in the same county.
The murder of Betty Lee marked a turning point in the investigation. Fry, along with his accomplice Leslie Engh, encountered Lee at a payphone. Offering her a ride, they instead led her to her death, attempting to rape her before bludgeoning and stabbing her. It was this crime that ultimately unraveled the tangled web of Fry's violent acts.
The Investigation and Arrest
The police investigation into Betty Lee's murder was methodical and thorough. Detectives found critical evidence linking Fry and Engh to the crime scene. DNA evidence, along with shoe imprints and tire tracks, provided undeniable proof of their involvement. This breakthrough not only solved Lee's murder but also helped law enforcement connect Fry to the previous murders of Tsosie, Trecker, and Fleming.
The arrest of Fry and Engh marked the beginning of a prolonged legal battle. In 2002, Fry was convicted of Betty Lee's murder and sentenced to death. This was just the beginning of his legal woes. He received a life sentence for the murder of Tsosie and, in 2005, two additional life sentences for the murders of Trecker and Fleming. Alongside these murder charges, Fry faced convictions for larceny, tampering with evidence, and witness intimidation in connection with the double murder of Trecker and Fleming.
Leslie Engh, Fry's accomplice, did not escape justice. He pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree kidnapping related to the deaths of Lee and Tsosie. Engh was sentenced to life in prison, cementing his fate alongside Fry.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Despite New Mexico's repeal of the death penalty in 2009, Fry and another inmate, Timothy Allen, remained on death row. Their fate would take another turn in June 2019 when the New Mexico Supreme Court vacated their death sentences, commuting them to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Although New Mexico had abolished the death penalty, the court's decision ensured that Fry would spend the rest of his life behind bars, as his four consecutive life terms rendered him ineligible for parole for 120 years.
Timothy Allen, another notorious figure, received an additional 25 years to his life sentence. Convicted of the 1994 strangulation murder of 17-year-old Sandra Phillips, Allen's heinous acts also included kidnapping and rape. Under New Mexico law, Allen must serve at least 55 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Conclusion
Robert Fry's story is a chilling reminder of the depths of human depravity and the relentless pursuit of justice. His four-year murder spree left an indelible mark on New Mexico, forever altering the lives of his victims' families and shaping the state's approach to capital punishment. As Fry remains imprisoned at the Penitentiary of New Mexico, his case continues to be a significant chapter in the annals of American true crime.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Robert Fry (murderer)
- Lee, Morgan. "New Mexico sets aside final 2 death sentences." The Associated Press, June 28, 2019.
- "STATE v. FRY (2005)." FindLaw.
- "State v. Fry." Vlex.
- "Convicted Murderer Faces Trial For More Killings." KOAT-TV, January 5, 2005.
- Haywood, Phaedra. "Lawyers plead for lives of last 2 death row prisoners." The Santa Fe New Mexican, April 10, 2018.
- "Death Row Inmate Found Guilty Of 1996 Double Murder." KOAT-TV, January 21, 2005.
- "Robert Fry will stay on death row." KOAT-TV, August 8, 2013.
- "Bobby Fry Archives." Forensic Files Now, June 14, 2018.
- Kellogg, Joshua. "Convicted murders have death sentence vacated by NM Supreme Court." Iowa City Press-Citizen.
- Gorman, Steve. "Life in prison ordered for last two death row inmates in New Mexico." Reuters, June 28, 2019.
- "Man resentenced to life in prison in 1994 killing." The Associated Press, October 11, 2019.
- Barker, Larry. "Killer walks halls as execution stalled." KRQE, October 31, 2013.
- "Offender Information." New Mexico Corrections Department.
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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First Double Murder
Robert Fry commits the murders of Joseph Fleming and Matthew Trecker in Farmington.
Third Murder
Fry murders Donald Tsosie in San Juan County.
Fourth Murder
Fry and accomplice Leslie Engh murder Betty Lee after offering her a ride.
Conviction for Lee's Murder
Fry is convicted of Betty Lee's murder and sentenced to death.
Additional Convictions
Fry receives life sentences for the murders of Tsosie, Trecker, and Fleming.
Death Sentence Upheld
A judge upholds Fry's death sentence.
Death Sentence Commuted
New Mexico Supreme Court vacates Fry's death sentence, commuting it to life imprisonment.