Robert Lee Willie

Overview

Robert Lee Willie (January 2, 1958 – December 28, 1984) was an American serial killer whose brutal crimes shocked Louisiana and left a trail of devastation from 1978 to 1980. Willie confessed to five murders, including the heinous rape and murder of 18-year-old Faith Hathaway, for which he was sentenced to death. His execution in 1984 marked a significant moment in the ongoing debate over capital punishment in the United States.

Quick Facts

• Born: January 2, 1958, Mandeville, Louisiana, U.S.
• Died: December 28, 1984 (aged 26), Louisiana State Penitentiary, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
• Cause of Death: Execution by electrocution
• Criminal Status: Executed
• Convictions:
  • Federal: Kidnapping (18 U.S.C. § 1201) (2 counts), Conspiracy to commit kidnapping (18 U.S.C. § 1201)
  • Louisiana: First degree murder, Second degree murder (2 counts), Aggravated kidnapping (2 counts), Aggravated rape (2 counts)
• Criminal Penalty:
  • Federal: Life imprisonment
  • Louisiana: Death
• Victims: 3–5
• Span of Crimes: 1978–1980
• Country: United States
• State: Louisiana

Background

Robert Lee Willie was born into a turbulent family life. The son of John Kelton Willie Jr. and Elizabeth Oalman in Covington, Louisiana, he grew up with four brothers in a household marred by drugs, alcohol, and violence. Willie's mother noted that he had only a ninth-grade education and left home at 16, succumbing to drug use.

John Willie, his father, had a notorious past, spending 27 years in Louisiana State Penitentiary for a slew of offenses. His criminal career began with cattle theft in 1954, leading to stints for aggravated battery and ultimately a life sentence for second-degree murder in 1964. Remarkably, he was released on parole in 1972 but returned to prison for additional crimes, only to be freed for the last time in 1983, shortly before Robert's execution.

Crimes

Willie's criminal activities began in earnest on May 23, 1978, when he and his cousin, Perry Wayne Taylor, brutally killed 19-year-old Dennis Buford Hemby, drowning him and stealing his marijuana. This gruesome act set the stage for even more horrendous crimes.

Fast forward to May 28, 1980. Willie and accomplice Joseph Jesse Vaccaro picked up Faith Hathaway, who was innocently walking home after celebrating her impending enlistment in the U.S. Army. The two men drove her to a secluded area, where they raped her and then stabbed her to death. Her lifeless body was discarded at Frickes Cave, a borrow pit located south of Franklinton, Louisiana, along Highway 25, near the Bogue Chitto River.

The terror continued just three days later, on May 31, 1980, when Willie and Vaccaro kidnapped 20-year-old Mark Allen Brewster and his girlfriend, 16-year-old Debbie Cuevas, from Madisonville. The couple was forced to drive to Alabama, where Brewster endured horrific violence. After being tied to a tree, he was shot twice in the head and had his throat slashed. Remarkably, he survived but was left partially paralyzed. Cuevas, meanwhile, was repeatedly raped during the ordeal and was later driven back to Louisiana, where Vaccaro assaulted her again.

The pair had initially planned to kill Cuevas as well, but she was ultimately released after they were confronted by Tommy Holden, who panicked upon learning of her dire situation.

Trial

The legal repercussions of Willie's and Vaccaro's actions were severe. The kidnapping of Brewster and Cuevas crossed state lines, invoking the Federal Kidnapping Act. Both men ultimately pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges, resulting in three consecutive life sentences.

During the trials, Willie displayed a shocking demeanor, even mocking Cuevas by blowing kisses and making throat-cutting gestures. Cuevas bravely testified against him, shedding light on the horrors she endured. The trials revealed conflicting accounts between Willie and Vaccaro regarding their roles in the crimes, but Willie was ultimately convicted of Hathaway's kidnapping, rape, and murder, receiving the death penalty.

Adding to the complexity, Willie's mother, Elizabeth Oalman, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact, serving a year of a five-year sentence for helping her son evade police.

Notably, during Vaccaro's trial, a juror who opposed capital punishment was seated, resulting in a split decision that spared him from the death penalty; he received two life sentences instead.

Willie, in a desperate bid to avoid execution, had originally pleaded guilty in federal court, thinking that this would protect him from state execution. Yet, federal authorities retained the ability to transfer him to state custody when necessary.

Following their initial convictions, Willie and Vaccaro faced additional charges for aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, and attempted murder. They pleaded guilty again, reportedly saying, "Yeah, we're guilty. We just wanted to put y'all through this."

Later, while on death row, Willie confessed to participating in the murder of St. Tammany Parish Deputy Sheriff Louis Wagner II on June 3, 1978. He implicated three other men in the crime, allegedly committed in retaliation for Wagner's arrests of Willie and his associates. However, after recanting his statement, the charges against the others were dropped, and he received another life sentence for Wagner's murder.

In a bizarre twist, serial killers Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole later confessed to Wagner’s murder, but it was determined they could not have been involved.

Death Row

In 1982, Sister Helen Prejean, a teacher and member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Medaille, began corresponding with Willie at the request of a prison chaplain. She would later become his spiritual adviser, helping him confront his actions and seek reconciliation.

Isolated on death row, Willie had limited contact with the outside world as he awaited execution. Sister Prejean's visits aimed to humanize him and encourage reflection on his past, an endeavor she later detailed in her powerful book, Dead Man Walking.

Execution

On December 28, 1984, Robert Lee Willie was executed, just five days shy of his 27th birthday. His mother, Elizabeth Oalman, passionately appealed for clemency, insisting that Robert had once been a "good boy." Yet, the board unanimously rejected her plea.

In stark contrast, John Willie, Robert’s father, publicly denounced his son, declaring that he deserved the death penalty. Faith Hathaway's parents, Vernon and Elizabeth Harvey, also expressed their desire for justice, with Vernon admitting he had contemplated killing Willie during the trial.

Willie faced execution with a calm demeanor, and his last meal consisted of fried fish, oysters, shrimp, french fries, and salad. In his final moments, he expressed hope that his death would bring relief to Hathaway's family, stating, "Killing is wrong. That's why you've put me to death."

Just before the execution, he shared a wink with Sister Prejean, prompting varying interpretations of its meaning—some saw it as defiance, while others viewed it as a moment of peace.

Aftermath

Following Willie's execution, the Harvey family sought to support others affected by violent crime by founding Parents of Murdered Children, advocating for victims' families within the justice system while continuing to support capital punishment.

Sister Prejean’s Dead Man Walking not only chronicled her experiences with Willie but also sparked discussions regarding the ethical implications of capital punishment. The book's adaptation into a feature film starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn further cemented its cultural impact.

Debbie Cuevas, later known as Debbie Morris, eventually found forgiveness for both Willie and Vaccaro, documenting her spiritual journey in her memoir, Forgiving the Dead Man Walking. Her evolving relationship with Sister Prejean showcased the complex interplay of trauma, forgiveness, and justice.

Michael L. Varnado, the detective who worked on the Faith Hathaway case, also contributed to the narrative surrounding Willie's crimes with his book, Victims of the Dead Man Walking.

Sources

• "Robert Willie's mother." The Daily Advertiser. 1984-11-20.
• DeParle, Jason. "Victim's parents watch Willie die." The Times-Picayune. December 28, 1984.
• "LOUISIANA KILLER IS PUT TO DEATH." Associated Press at the New York Times. December 29, 1984.
• Varnado, Michael L.; Smith, Daniel P. (2003). Victims of Dead Man Walking. Pelican Publishing Company.
• Morris, Debbie. Forgiving the Dead Man Walking: Only One Woman Can Tell the Entire Story. Zondervan.
• Buchanan, Christopher. "LOUISIANA: A MURDER, A MOVIE AND A WINK." PBS. December 8, 2003.

Wikipedia Article on Robert Lee Willie