Robert Gleason (Murderer)
American Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Jarratt, Virginia
TIME PERIOD
2007-2010
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
Robert Charles Gleason Jr., an American serial killer, was executed by electrocution on January 16, 2013, at Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia. Gleason, born on April 10, 1970, was already serving a life sentence for the 2007 murder of Michael Kent Jamerson when he killed two of his cellmates: Harvey Gray Watson on May 8, 2009, and Aaron Cooper on July 28, 2010. Gleason's violent actions stemmed from frustrations with prison conditions and his threats to continue killing if not sentenced to death, which he ultimately volunteered for. His execution marked the end of capital punishment in Virginia, as the state abolished the death penalty on March 24, 2021, making him the last person executed in the state.
Robert Gleason is believed to have murdered his cellmates out of frustration with the prison system, specifically targeting those he deemed unmanageable or difficult to live with. Some speculate that his actions were also motivated by a desire to expedite his own execution, as he had vowed to continue killing in prison if not put to death. Additionally, there are theories that Gleason's violent behavior was influenced by his background in a drug gang and his history of violent crimes.
Robert Gleason: The Last Electrocution in Virginia
The Making of a Serial Killer
Born on April 10, 1970, in Lowell, Massachusetts, Robert Charles Gleason Jr. would eventually become a notorious figure in the annals of American crime. His journey into infamy culminated in the cold confines of a Virginia prison, where he earned the grim distinction of being a serial killer executed by electrocution in the state. Gleason's dark saga unfolded within the tight-knit corridors of prison life, where he would claim the lives of his cellmates – a chilling testament to his unrepentant nature.
A Life of Crime and the First Murder
The seeds of Gleason's violent trajectory were sown long before his prison days. In 2008, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Michael Kent Jamerson in 2007. Jamerson, whose life ended on May 8 of that year in Amherst County, Virginia, became a casualty of Gleason's desperate attempt to conceal his involvement with a drug gang. Gleason's subsequent incarceration would only serve as a prelude to further violence.
The Killing Spree Behind Bars
Gleason's story took a sinister turn as he served his life sentence at Wallens Ridge State Prison. In 2009, he found himself sharing a cell with Harvey Gray Watson, a severely mentally ill inmate serving a 100-year sentence for a 1983 shooting spree. Watson, who had also been acquitted for a fatal shooting at his store in 1974, would become Gleason's next victim. On the second anniversary of Jamerson's death, Gleason hog-tied, beat, and strangled the 63-year-old Watson, marking another notch in his grim tally. True to his nature, Gleason pleaded guilty, using the courtroom as a platform to announce his intent to continue killing if not sentenced to death.
Gleason's chilling confessions did not end with Watson. He claimed responsibility for other killings prior to his incarceration, some motivated by financial gain and others by personal vendetta. These confessions painted a portrait of a man driven by a deeply ingrained propensity for violence.
The Second Murder and Death Sentence
In yet another twist of fate, Gleason's bloodlust did not subside. While awaiting sentencing at Red Onion State Prison, a facility known for housing Virginia's most dangerous inmates, he found opportunity in the prison yard. On July 28, 2010, Gleason strangled fellow inmate Aaron Cooper, a 26-year-old serving a 34-year sentence for robbery. Using the wire fencing that separated their cages, Gleason executed his plan with calculated precision.
The courtroom drama that followed was as cold as Gleason's demeanor. He waived his appeals, opting instead to expedite his journey to death row. Gleason chose the electric chair over lethal injection, a decision that would render him the first person executed in the United States in 2013.
Execution and Lasting Legacy
On January 16, 2013, Robert Gleason faced his final moments at the Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia. At precisely 9:08 p.m., the electric chair claimed its last victim in Virginia. Gleason's last meal remained a secret, but his final words were a cryptic blend of bravado and defiance: "Well, I hope Percy ain't going to forget to wet the sponge. Put me on the highway to Jackson and call my Irish buddies. Póg mo thóin. God bless." The phrase "Póg mo thóin," an Irish expression meaning "kiss my arse," encapsulated his irreverence to the end.
Gleason's execution marked a significant moment in the history of capital punishment. It was the first time the electric chair had been used since the March 2010 execution of Paul Warner Powell in Virginia. Gleason's execution stood as a somber milestone, the last of its kind in Virginia until the state abolished capital punishment on March 24, 2021.
The Debate Over Capital Punishment
Gleason's case became a focal point in the ongoing debate over the death penalty in Virginia. As the state grappled with the moral implications of capital punishment, proponents argued that Gleason's execution was necessary, citing his continued violence behind bars as evidence of the threat he posed. On the other side of the debate, opponents pointed to the inherent flaws and ethical concerns surrounding the death penalty.
Ultimately, with the abolition of capital punishment in Virginia, Gleason remains the last person executed by electrocution in the state, a haunting reminder of a justice system grappling with the complexities of life and death.
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 Murder Committed
Robert Gleason murders Michael Kent Jamerson to cover up his involvement in a drug gang.
Life Sentence Imposed
Gleason is sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Michael Jamerson.
Second Murder in Prison
Gleason strangles cellmate Harvey Gray Watson on the anniversary of Jamerson's death.
Third Murder in Prison
Gleason strangles Aaron Cooper through wire fencing in a prison yard.
Death Sentence Received
Gleason is sentenced to death for the murders of his cellmates.
Execution by Electrocution
Gleason is executed by electric chair at Greensville Correctional Center.
Death Penalty Abolished
Virginia abolishes capital punishment, making Gleason the last person executed by electrocution in the state.
Robert Charles Gleason Jr., an American serial killer, was executed by electrocution on January 16, 2013, at Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia. Gleason, born on April 10, 1970, was already serving a life sentence for the 2007 murder of Michael Kent Jamerson when he killed two of his cellmates: Harvey Gray Watson on May 8, 2009, and Aaron Cooper on July 28, 2010. Gleason's violent actions stemmed from frustrations with prison conditions and his threats to continue killing if not sentenced to death, which he ultimately volunteered for. His execution marked the end of capital punishment in Virginia, as the state abolished the death penalty on March 24, 2021, making him the last person executed in the state.
Robert Gleason is believed to have murdered his cellmates out of frustration with the prison system, specifically targeting those he deemed unmanageable or difficult to live with. Some speculate that his actions were also motivated by a desire to expedite his own execution, as he had vowed to continue killing in prison if not put to death. Additionally, there are theories that Gleason's violent behavior was influenced by his background in a drug gang and his history of violent crimes.
Robert Gleason: The Last Electrocution in Virginia
The Making of a Serial Killer
Born on April 10, 1970, in Lowell, Massachusetts, Robert Charles Gleason Jr. would eventually become a notorious figure in the annals of American crime. His journey into infamy culminated in the cold confines of a Virginia prison, where he earned the grim distinction of being a serial killer executed by electrocution in the state. Gleason's dark saga unfolded within the tight-knit corridors of prison life, where he would claim the lives of his cellmates – a chilling testament to his unrepentant nature.
A Life of Crime and the First Murder
The seeds of Gleason's violent trajectory were sown long before his prison days. In 2008, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Michael Kent Jamerson in 2007. Jamerson, whose life ended on May 8 of that year in Amherst County, Virginia, became a casualty of Gleason's desperate attempt to conceal his involvement with a drug gang. Gleason's subsequent incarceration would only serve as a prelude to further violence.
The Killing Spree Behind Bars
Gleason's story took a sinister turn as he served his life sentence at Wallens Ridge State Prison. In 2009, he found himself sharing a cell with Harvey Gray Watson, a severely mentally ill inmate serving a 100-year sentence for a 1983 shooting spree. Watson, who had also been acquitted for a fatal shooting at his store in 1974, would become Gleason's next victim. On the second anniversary of Jamerson's death, Gleason hog-tied, beat, and strangled the 63-year-old Watson, marking another notch in his grim tally. True to his nature, Gleason pleaded guilty, using the courtroom as a platform to announce his intent to continue killing if not sentenced to death.
Gleason's chilling confessions did not end with Watson. He claimed responsibility for other killings prior to his incarceration, some motivated by financial gain and others by personal vendetta. These confessions painted a portrait of a man driven by a deeply ingrained propensity for violence.
The Second Murder and Death Sentence
In yet another twist of fate, Gleason's bloodlust did not subside. While awaiting sentencing at Red Onion State Prison, a facility known for housing Virginia's most dangerous inmates, he found opportunity in the prison yard. On July 28, 2010, Gleason strangled fellow inmate Aaron Cooper, a 26-year-old serving a 34-year sentence for robbery. Using the wire fencing that separated their cages, Gleason executed his plan with calculated precision.
The courtroom drama that followed was as cold as Gleason's demeanor. He waived his appeals, opting instead to expedite his journey to death row. Gleason chose the electric chair over lethal injection, a decision that would render him the first person executed in the United States in 2013.
Execution and Lasting Legacy
On January 16, 2013, Robert Gleason faced his final moments at the Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia. At precisely 9:08 p.m., the electric chair claimed its last victim in Virginia. Gleason's last meal remained a secret, but his final words were a cryptic blend of bravado and defiance: "Well, I hope Percy ain't going to forget to wet the sponge. Put me on the highway to Jackson and call my Irish buddies. Póg mo thóin. God bless." The phrase "Póg mo thóin," an Irish expression meaning "kiss my arse," encapsulated his irreverence to the end.
Gleason's execution marked a significant moment in the history of capital punishment. It was the first time the electric chair had been used since the March 2010 execution of Paul Warner Powell in Virginia. Gleason's execution stood as a somber milestone, the last of its kind in Virginia until the state abolished capital punishment on March 24, 2021.
The Debate Over Capital Punishment
Gleason's case became a focal point in the ongoing debate over the death penalty in Virginia. As the state grappled with the moral implications of capital punishment, proponents argued that Gleason's execution was necessary, citing his continued violence behind bars as evidence of the threat he posed. On the other side of the debate, opponents pointed to the inherent flaws and ethical concerns surrounding the death penalty.
Ultimately, with the abolition of capital punishment in Virginia, Gleason remains the last person executed by electrocution in the state, a haunting reminder of a justice system grappling with the complexities of life and death.
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 Murder Committed
Robert Gleason murders Michael Kent Jamerson to cover up his involvement in a drug gang.
Life Sentence Imposed
Gleason is sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Michael Jamerson.
Second Murder in Prison
Gleason strangles cellmate Harvey Gray Watson on the anniversary of Jamerson's death.
Third Murder in Prison
Gleason strangles Aaron Cooper through wire fencing in a prison yard.
Death Sentence Received
Gleason is sentenced to death for the murders of his cellmates.
Execution by Electrocution
Gleason is executed by electric chair at Greensville Correctional Center.
Death Penalty Abolished
Virginia abolishes capital punishment, making Gleason the last person executed by electrocution in the state.