Robert Liberty
Southern California Serial Killer
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Southern California, United States
TIME PERIOD
1966-1971
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
Robert Willard Liberty, known as The Candlelight Killer, committed a series of ritualistic murders in Southern California between March and June 1970, following a prior conviction for killing his girlfriend, Marcella Landis, in 1966. Liberty murdered two men, including 25-year-old Thomas Astorina, on March 12, 1970, and left taunting messages for authorities. He was apprehended on June 9, 1970, after a warrant was issued for his arrest due to his flight from prosecution. While awaiting trial, Liberty was murdered by a fellow inmate on January 20, 1971. Key evidence from the case includes the ritualistic nature of the murders and the psychological evaluations that indicated Liberty's mental instability prior to the killings.
Robert Liberty is believed to have committed his murders in a ritualistic manner, possibly driven by sexual sadism. Some speculate that his history of mental illness and previous violent behavior towards his girlfriend may have contributed to his violent tendencies. Additionally, his taunting messages left for authorities suggest he sought notoriety or a sense of control over the investigation.
The Grim Tale of Robert Liberty: The Candlelight Killer
Introduction to Robert Liberty
Robert Willard Liberty, born on May 15, 1947, in California, became infamously known as "The Candlelight Killer." His short but harrowing legacy was marked by a string of ritualistic murders in Southern California between March and June of 1970. Liberty's chilling modus operandi involved leaving taunting messages for authorities, a macabre signature that added terror to his crimes. Despite the heinous nature of his actions, Liberty's life was cut short before he could stand trial for these murders; he met a violent end on January 20, 1971, in a San Diego jail cell, strangled by another inmate.
The Prelude: Murder of Marcella Landis
Liberty's dark path began in 1966 at the age of 19, during his stay at the Orange County Medical Center. It was here he met Marcella Landis, a 31-year-old woman also under treatment following a suicide attempt. The two troubled souls formed a connection that led to a relationship. After their release, Liberty moved into Landis' apartment, but their relationship took a fatal turn on June 4, 1966. Liberty strangled Landis with a silk stocking, dressed her body, applied makeup, and arranged her on a couch surrounded by candles with a Bible on her chest.
When the police arrived, they found Liberty nonchalantly strumming a guitar beside Landis' lifeless form. This horrific scene led to his arrest. On August 26, 1966, a judge declared Liberty insane, and he was committed to Atascadero State Hospital in San Luis Obispo County for 90 days. By February 1967, the court accepted a plea of insanity, declaring Liberty not guilty by reason of insanity for Landis' murder. Consequently, he was transferred to Vacaville State Hospital.
The Candlelight Killings Begin
The Murder of Thomas Astorina
By 1969, psychiatrists believed Liberty had recovered, and he was mistakenly discharged from Metropolitan State Hospital on June 2, 1969. Despite the error, Liberty perceived his release as legitimate. After being returned briefly to the Orange County Medical Center, he was declared legally sane and released without supervision on September 15, 1969.
Liberty relocated to Costa Mesa, sharing an apartment with three men. On March 12, 1970, he shot and killed one of his roommates, Thomas Astorina, a 25-year-old father of two. Liberty was charged with Astorina's murder but fled, prompting the FBI to issue a warrant for his arrest on charges of flight to avoid prosecution.
The Murder of Robert Irion
On the run, Liberty found companionship with Kendall Bierly, with whom he formed a romantic bond. On June 6, 1970, while hitchhiking in Long Beach, the pair were picked up by 17-year-old Richard Greytak. Liberty, armed with a gun, coerced Greytak to drive them to his mother's house in Westminster, where he robbed her of $45. The trio then traveled to San Diego, where Liberty and Bierly invaded the apartment of Robert J. Irion, a 53-year-old nurse and former patient at the same mental hospital Liberty had been housed.
Inside, Liberty bound Irion and Greytak, holding them captive for hours. As midnight approached, Liberty brutally beat Irion to death, arranging the body on the floor and placing candles around his head. With a grease pencil, he inscribed the chilling words "The Candlelight Killer Strikes Again" and "Catch Me If You Can" on the door. Liberty and Bierly fled, leaving Greytak bound. After seven harrowing hours, Greytak managed to free himself and alert the police, sparking a massive manhunt.
The Capture and Untimely Death
As law enforcement agencies combed through bars and known haunts of Liberty, he had already escaped California. On June 9, 1970, Liberty, along with Bierly and Glenn Alan Fawcett, 17, committed a robbery at a motel in Colorado Springs, Colorado, stealing $109 and kidnapping the owner's wife. Swift police action led to their arrest after locating Liberty's vehicle and rescuing the kidnapped woman.
Liberty pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but before the court could decide his fate, his life was violently ended. On January 20, 1971, in a San Diego jail, Liberty and his cellmate, Paul Eugene Rankin, were strangled to death by Timothy Earl Dudley, a 24-year-old fellow inmate. Dudley later pled guilty to the murders and was sentenced to life imprisonment in April 1971.
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Murder of Marcella Landis
Robert Liberty strangles his girlfriend, Marcella Landis, and stages her body.
Declared Insane
A judge declares Liberty insane after the murder of Landis.
Released from Hospital
Liberty is released from psychiatric care, deemed legally sane.
Murder of Thomas Astorina
Liberty fatally shoots his roommate, Thomas Astorina.
Kidnapping of Richard Greytak
Liberty and accomplice kidnap Richard Greytak at gunpoint.
Capture of Robert Liberty
Liberty is arrested in Colorado after a robbery and kidnapping.
Liberty Murdered in Prison
Robert Liberty is strangled to death by a fellow inmate.
Robert Willard Liberty, known as The Candlelight Killer, committed a series of ritualistic murders in Southern California between March and June 1970, following a prior conviction for killing his girlfriend, Marcella Landis, in 1966. Liberty murdered two men, including 25-year-old Thomas Astorina, on March 12, 1970, and left taunting messages for authorities. He was apprehended on June 9, 1970, after a warrant was issued for his arrest due to his flight from prosecution. While awaiting trial, Liberty was murdered by a fellow inmate on January 20, 1971. Key evidence from the case includes the ritualistic nature of the murders and the psychological evaluations that indicated Liberty's mental instability prior to the killings.
Robert Liberty is believed to have committed his murders in a ritualistic manner, possibly driven by sexual sadism. Some speculate that his history of mental illness and previous violent behavior towards his girlfriend may have contributed to his violent tendencies. Additionally, his taunting messages left for authorities suggest he sought notoriety or a sense of control over the investigation.
The Grim Tale of Robert Liberty: The Candlelight Killer
Introduction to Robert Liberty
Robert Willard Liberty, born on May 15, 1947, in California, became infamously known as "The Candlelight Killer." His short but harrowing legacy was marked by a string of ritualistic murders in Southern California between March and June of 1970. Liberty's chilling modus operandi involved leaving taunting messages for authorities, a macabre signature that added terror to his crimes. Despite the heinous nature of his actions, Liberty's life was cut short before he could stand trial for these murders; he met a violent end on January 20, 1971, in a San Diego jail cell, strangled by another inmate.
The Prelude: Murder of Marcella Landis
Liberty's dark path began in 1966 at the age of 19, during his stay at the Orange County Medical Center. It was here he met Marcella Landis, a 31-year-old woman also under treatment following a suicide attempt. The two troubled souls formed a connection that led to a relationship. After their release, Liberty moved into Landis' apartment, but their relationship took a fatal turn on June 4, 1966. Liberty strangled Landis with a silk stocking, dressed her body, applied makeup, and arranged her on a couch surrounded by candles with a Bible on her chest.
When the police arrived, they found Liberty nonchalantly strumming a guitar beside Landis' lifeless form. This horrific scene led to his arrest. On August 26, 1966, a judge declared Liberty insane, and he was committed to Atascadero State Hospital in San Luis Obispo County for 90 days. By February 1967, the court accepted a plea of insanity, declaring Liberty not guilty by reason of insanity for Landis' murder. Consequently, he was transferred to Vacaville State Hospital.
The Candlelight Killings Begin
The Murder of Thomas Astorina
By 1969, psychiatrists believed Liberty had recovered, and he was mistakenly discharged from Metropolitan State Hospital on June 2, 1969. Despite the error, Liberty perceived his release as legitimate. After being returned briefly to the Orange County Medical Center, he was declared legally sane and released without supervision on September 15, 1969.
Liberty relocated to Costa Mesa, sharing an apartment with three men. On March 12, 1970, he shot and killed one of his roommates, Thomas Astorina, a 25-year-old father of two. Liberty was charged with Astorina's murder but fled, prompting the FBI to issue a warrant for his arrest on charges of flight to avoid prosecution.
The Murder of Robert Irion
On the run, Liberty found companionship with Kendall Bierly, with whom he formed a romantic bond. On June 6, 1970, while hitchhiking in Long Beach, the pair were picked up by 17-year-old Richard Greytak. Liberty, armed with a gun, coerced Greytak to drive them to his mother's house in Westminster, where he robbed her of $45. The trio then traveled to San Diego, where Liberty and Bierly invaded the apartment of Robert J. Irion, a 53-year-old nurse and former patient at the same mental hospital Liberty had been housed.
Inside, Liberty bound Irion and Greytak, holding them captive for hours. As midnight approached, Liberty brutally beat Irion to death, arranging the body on the floor and placing candles around his head. With a grease pencil, he inscribed the chilling words "The Candlelight Killer Strikes Again" and "Catch Me If You Can" on the door. Liberty and Bierly fled, leaving Greytak bound. After seven harrowing hours, Greytak managed to free himself and alert the police, sparking a massive manhunt.
The Capture and Untimely Death
As law enforcement agencies combed through bars and known haunts of Liberty, he had already escaped California. On June 9, 1970, Liberty, along with Bierly and Glenn Alan Fawcett, 17, committed a robbery at a motel in Colorado Springs, Colorado, stealing $109 and kidnapping the owner's wife. Swift police action led to their arrest after locating Liberty's vehicle and rescuing the kidnapped woman.
Liberty pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but before the court could decide his fate, his life was violently ended. On January 20, 1971, in a San Diego jail, Liberty and his cellmate, Paul Eugene Rankin, were strangled to death by Timothy Earl Dudley, a 24-year-old fellow inmate. Dudley later pled guilty to the murders and was sentenced to life imprisonment in April 1971.
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
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Murder of Marcella Landis
Robert Liberty strangles his girlfriend, Marcella Landis, and stages her body.
Declared Insane
A judge declares Liberty insane after the murder of Landis.
Released from Hospital
Liberty is released from psychiatric care, deemed legally sane.
Murder of Thomas Astorina
Liberty fatally shoots his roommate, Thomas Astorina.
Kidnapping of Richard Greytak
Liberty and accomplice kidnap Richard Greytak at gunpoint.
Capture of Robert Liberty
Liberty is arrested in Colorado after a robbery and kidnapping.
Liberty Murdered in Prison
Robert Liberty is strangled to death by a fellow inmate.