The Tale of the Tipster Killer: Robert Maury's Deadly Game

In the serene landscapes of Shasta County, California, a sinister presence lurked from 1985 to 1987, leaving a trail of fear and death. This is the chilling story of Robert Edward Maury, infamously known as the Tipster Killer. Born on February 24, 1958, in Crescent City, California, Maury is now a condemned serial killer awaiting execution at San Quentin State Prison. His reign of terror involved strangling three women, and his modus operandi was as baffling as it was brutal. After each murder, Maury would anonymously call a tip line to provide detectives with crucial, albeit misleading, information about the location of the bodies. His motive? To confuse the authorities and, occasionally, to collect reward money. Though suspected in two additional murders, his known victims number three, and for these crimes, he has been sentenced to death.

Early Life and Troubled Beginnings

Maury's early years were marked by instability and alleged abuse. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Anderson, California. Reports suggest that Maury grew up under the shadow of an abusive father. After completing high school, he enlisted in the Army, only to be dishonorably discharged in 1985 due to marijuana possession. Following his discharge, Maury settled in Cottonwood, where he worked sporadically as a landscaper and dried-flower arranger.

The Murders Begin

The Disappearance of Averill D. Weeden

The sinister saga began in late May 1985, when 48-year-old Averill Deanna Weeden, Maury's landlord, vanished without a trace. Initially, Maury denied any involvement when questioned by the police. Then, on June 19, an anonymous call was made to the Secret Witness Program of Shasta County, with the caller hinting at Weeden's whereabouts and inquiring about the reward money. It wasn't until August 8 that the same caller provided explicit directions to Weeden's body, which was discovered in a wooded area along Bechelli Lane in Redding. The victim was partially buried and wrapped in cardboard. An autopsy revealed skull fractures and a fractured throat bone, pointing to strangulation as the cause of death. Despite several more calls from the tipster, who hinted the killer's name might be Robert or Bob, Maury remained a free man, denying involvement in a September 4 interview.

The Enigma of Belinda Jo Stark

The case took a chilling turn on June 29, 1987, when 30-year-old Belinda Jo Stark failed to appear for a court hearing in Nevada City. She had last been seen by her boyfriend, Gary Evans, on June 25. Evans initially did not report her missing, attributing her absence to her habits. However, on August 8, an anonymous call claimed a body had been found, demanding reward money for its location. Nine days later, the caller misidentified the body as that of a woman named Gretchen Olston, but investigators soon uncovered the truth. Stark's body was discovered in a bushy grassland near Palm Avenue, identified by her tattoos.

The Tragic End of Dawn M. Berryhill

The discovery of Dawn Marie Berryhill's body on September 22, 1987, intensified the investigation. Found in a remote area 250 yards from Stark's body, Berryhill had last been seen on June 22, leaving her infant son with a friend. Due to the advanced decomposition, her identity was confirmed through dental records. An autopsy revealed that she had been strangled with a bootlace. Her body was found after another anonymous tip, leading investigators to suspect a connection between her murder and Stark's.

Suspected Victims and Lingering Shadows

Maury's alleged involvement extends to other unsolved crimes. On August 4, 1983, 44-year-old waitress Lora Stewart was found strangled in Battle Creek near Cottonwood. Similarly, on October 5, 1983, 63-year-old businesswoman Helen Faye Generes was discovered strangled in her Redding real estate office. Although Maury remains a suspect in these cases, he was never formally charged.

The Fall of the Tipster Killer

Maury's downfall began in September 1987 when investigators suspected he was the anonymous caller who had collected $2,000 in reward money. This money was traced to the purchase of a motorcycle and the settlement of family debts. A crucial break came when Fire Marshal Roy Del Carlo, posing as a Secret Witness board chairman, recorded meetings with Maury. The voice recordings matched those of the mysterious caller. Further incriminating evidence included Maury's fingerprints, found on an envelope containing reward money and inside Stark's purse. On November 7, 1987, Maury was arrested at his home, initially held on $750,000 bail, which was later revoked. Charged with three counts of first-degree murder and an additional rape charge, Maury pleaded innocent, claiming he had only witnessed one of the killings.

Trial and Aftermath

During the trial, Maury's defense argued that he was a good Samaritan who stumbled upon the bodies. However, the jury found him guilty of all three murders. In a dramatic courtroom moment, Maury challenged the jury to sentence him to death if they believed him guilty, a challenge they accepted. In 2003, Maury attempted to appeal his sentence, citing trial errors, including the disclosure of his calls to the Secret Witness Program, which he claimed violated his Fourth Amendment rights. The court rejected the appeal, affirming that the program's cooperation with law enforcement was justified.

Today, Maury remains on death row, his execution stalled by California's complex legal landscape surrounding capital punishment. As of 2023, he continues to await his fate at San Quentin State Prison, a grim reminder of the horrors he unleashed over three decades ago.

Sources

• Robert Maury's Wikipedia Article