Robert Rozier
Religious Group Murders
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Opa-locka, Florida
TIME PERIOD
1986
VICTIMS
4 confirmed
Robert Earnest Rozier Jr., born July 28, 1955, is a former professional football player turned convicted murderer, who, in the 1980s, committed at least four murders in connection with the Nation of Yahweh religious group. The crimes occurred by Halloween 1986 in various locations in California. Rozier was charged and subsequently turned state's evidence against the group, leading to a 22-year prison sentence, of which he served ten years before being paroled and placed in witness protection. In 2001, he was re-incarcerated under California's three-strikes law after being convicted of check bouncing, and he is currently serving a 25-to-life sentence at Mule Creek State Prison. Significant evidence in the case included Rozier's confessions and corroborating testimonies from other members of the Nation of Yahweh.
Robert Rozier is believed to have committed murders on behalf of the Nation of Yahweh, a religious group he joined in the 1980s, leading to speculation about the group's influence and potential involvement in orchestrating violent acts. Some theories suggest that Rozier's actions were part of a larger agenda by the Nation of Yahweh, which was known for its controversial practices and beliefs. Additionally, there are discussions about Rozier's motivations, with some believing that he may have been manipulated or coerced into committing these crimes by the group's leadership.
The Double Life of Robert Rozier: From Football Star to Convicted Killer
Robert Earnest Rozier Jr. seemed destined for greatness. Born on July 28, 1955, in Anchorage, Alaska, Rozier grew up as a self-proclaimed "Air Force brat" in California. His early years were marked by remarkable athletic prowess, which earned him recognition as an exceptional high school athlete at Cordova High School in Rancho Cordova, California. Despite his athletic achievements, Rozier struggled academically, managing only a 1.32 GPA and leaving without a diploma. Yet, his talent on the football field was undeniable.
Rise and Fall of a Football Career
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 240 pounds, Rozier's physical attributes and skills made him a standout defensive end. He played college football at both Grays Harbor College and the University of California, Berkeley. His athletic prowess was lauded by teammates and coaches alike, with UC Berkeley's team captain, Ralph DeLoach, calling him "the best athlete on the team."
In 1979, Rozier's dreams seemed to come true when he was drafted into the NFL by the St. Louis Cardinals in the ninth round. However, his professional career was short-lived, marred by allegations of drug use and petty crime. After a brief stint in the NFL, Rozier moved to the Canadian Football League (CFL), playing for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. His return to the United States in 1981 saw him join the Oakland Raiders for a fleeting two weeks before his sports career ended abruptly.
Descent into Crime and the Nation of Yahweh
Amid his faltering football career, Rozier's life took a dark turn. While in Canada, he allegedly wrote bad checks amounting to $20,000 to $30,000, leading to 32 fraud warrants by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police by November 1986.
In 1982, Rozier encountered Yahweh ben Yahweh, the charismatic leader of the Nation of Yahweh, a religious group advocating that American blacks are the true Jews. By 1986, Rozier had become an ardent follower, renouncing his past and adopting the name Neariah Israel. He donated all his possessions to the group and sought to join the "Brotherhood," a secretive sect within the Nation tasked with carrying out violent missions.
A Deadly Path
Rozier's initiation into the Brotherhood required committing murder. In April 1986, in Miami's Coconut Grove neighborhood, he brutally murdered two men with a twelve-inch Japanese knife. In September, Rozier and another Brotherhood member killed Raymond Kelly, dismembering his ear as a trophy for ben Yahweh. Further violence followed, including the vicious stabbing of Cecil Branch and the shooting of Anthony Brown and Rudolph Broussard during a violent eviction attempt in Opa-locka, Florida.
Turning State's Evidence
Following his arrest in November 1986, Rozier claimed to be 404 years old, unable to recall his pre-conversion life. Initially supported by the Nation with legal aid, Rozier was later excommunicated after demanding a new lawyer. Isolated and under pressure, Rozier turned state's evidence in March 1988, providing crucial testimony on the Nation's violent activities in exchange for a 22-year sentence.
Rozier's testimony revealed the extent of the Nation's criminal activities, including murder, retaliation, and rumors of involvement in the 1983 killing of martial artist Leonard Dupree. His revelations led to a 14-murder conspiracy indictment against 16 members of the Nation, including Yahweh ben Yahweh. Despite defense attempts to discredit Rozier, his testimony was instrumental in securing federal conspiracy convictions against ben Yahweh.
A Life Behind Bars
Rozier served his sentence under the protection of the Federal Witness Protection Program, adopting the alias Robert Rameses. Paroled in 1996, he expressed remorse for his past, claiming spiritual and intellectual transformation. Despite a new identity, Rozier's criminal tendencies resurfaced.
In 1999, Rozier was arrested for bouncing a $66 check, a seemingly minor offense that under California's three-strikes law led to a 25-years-to-life sentence. Tried as a habitual offender, Rozier was imprisoned at Mule Creek State Prison, denied parole in 2022 and 2025. As of July 2025, he remains incarcerated, awaiting another parole hearing in 2028.
An Unresolved Chapter: The Murder of Attilio Cicala
In July 1984, a homeless man named Attilio Cicala was murdered in New Jersey, a crime later linked to Rozier and John Armstrong as a purported sacrificial offering to ben Yahweh. However, by 2000, with key witnesses unavailable or unreliable, the charges were dropped due to insufficient credible evidence.
Robert Rozier's life is a cautionary tale of potential squandered and a descent into violence that shocked and fascinated the nation. His journey from gridiron glory to infamy remains a chilling reminder of how easily promising lives can veer into darkness.
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First Murders Committed
Robert Rozier kills a drunk man and his roommate in Miami as part of his initiation into the Nation of Yahweh.
Additional Murder
Rozier and another member kill 61-year-old Raymond Kelly, cutting off his ear as a trophy.
Opa-locka Murders
Rozier is charged with the first-degree murder of Anthony Brown and Rudolph Broussard during a shooting.
Turns State's Evidence
Rozier cooperates with police, confessing to four murders and implicating the Nation of Yahweh in a larger conspiracy.
Conspiracy Indictment
A 14-murder conspiracy indictment against 16 members of the Nation of Yahweh is built, relying heavily on Rozier's testimony.
Paroled
After serving ten years, Rozier is paroled under a new identity as part of the witness protection program.
Arrest for Bad Checks
Rozier is arrested for bouncing checks, leading to felony charges under California's three-strikes law.
Sentenced Again
Rozier is sentenced to 25 years-to-life for bouncing checks, marking his third strike.
Parole Denied
Rozier is denied parole after serving time for his third strike, with eligibility for another hearing set for 2028.
Robert Earnest Rozier Jr., born July 28, 1955, is a former professional football player turned convicted murderer, who, in the 1980s, committed at least four murders in connection with the Nation of Yahweh religious group. The crimes occurred by Halloween 1986 in various locations in California. Rozier was charged and subsequently turned state's evidence against the group, leading to a 22-year prison sentence, of which he served ten years before being paroled and placed in witness protection. In 2001, he was re-incarcerated under California's three-strikes law after being convicted of check bouncing, and he is currently serving a 25-to-life sentence at Mule Creek State Prison. Significant evidence in the case included Rozier's confessions and corroborating testimonies from other members of the Nation of Yahweh.
Robert Rozier is believed to have committed murders on behalf of the Nation of Yahweh, a religious group he joined in the 1980s, leading to speculation about the group's influence and potential involvement in orchestrating violent acts. Some theories suggest that Rozier's actions were part of a larger agenda by the Nation of Yahweh, which was known for its controversial practices and beliefs. Additionally, there are discussions about Rozier's motivations, with some believing that he may have been manipulated or coerced into committing these crimes by the group's leadership.
The Double Life of Robert Rozier: From Football Star to Convicted Killer
Robert Earnest Rozier Jr. seemed destined for greatness. Born on July 28, 1955, in Anchorage, Alaska, Rozier grew up as a self-proclaimed "Air Force brat" in California. His early years were marked by remarkable athletic prowess, which earned him recognition as an exceptional high school athlete at Cordova High School in Rancho Cordova, California. Despite his athletic achievements, Rozier struggled academically, managing only a 1.32 GPA and leaving without a diploma. Yet, his talent on the football field was undeniable.
Rise and Fall of a Football Career
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 240 pounds, Rozier's physical attributes and skills made him a standout defensive end. He played college football at both Grays Harbor College and the University of California, Berkeley. His athletic prowess was lauded by teammates and coaches alike, with UC Berkeley's team captain, Ralph DeLoach, calling him "the best athlete on the team."
In 1979, Rozier's dreams seemed to come true when he was drafted into the NFL by the St. Louis Cardinals in the ninth round. However, his professional career was short-lived, marred by allegations of drug use and petty crime. After a brief stint in the NFL, Rozier moved to the Canadian Football League (CFL), playing for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. His return to the United States in 1981 saw him join the Oakland Raiders for a fleeting two weeks before his sports career ended abruptly.
Descent into Crime and the Nation of Yahweh
Amid his faltering football career, Rozier's life took a dark turn. While in Canada, he allegedly wrote bad checks amounting to $20,000 to $30,000, leading to 32 fraud warrants by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police by November 1986.
In 1982, Rozier encountered Yahweh ben Yahweh, the charismatic leader of the Nation of Yahweh, a religious group advocating that American blacks are the true Jews. By 1986, Rozier had become an ardent follower, renouncing his past and adopting the name Neariah Israel. He donated all his possessions to the group and sought to join the "Brotherhood," a secretive sect within the Nation tasked with carrying out violent missions.
A Deadly Path
Rozier's initiation into the Brotherhood required committing murder. In April 1986, in Miami's Coconut Grove neighborhood, he brutally murdered two men with a twelve-inch Japanese knife. In September, Rozier and another Brotherhood member killed Raymond Kelly, dismembering his ear as a trophy for ben Yahweh. Further violence followed, including the vicious stabbing of Cecil Branch and the shooting of Anthony Brown and Rudolph Broussard during a violent eviction attempt in Opa-locka, Florida.
Turning State's Evidence
Following his arrest in November 1986, Rozier claimed to be 404 years old, unable to recall his pre-conversion life. Initially supported by the Nation with legal aid, Rozier was later excommunicated after demanding a new lawyer. Isolated and under pressure, Rozier turned state's evidence in March 1988, providing crucial testimony on the Nation's violent activities in exchange for a 22-year sentence.
Rozier's testimony revealed the extent of the Nation's criminal activities, including murder, retaliation, and rumors of involvement in the 1983 killing of martial artist Leonard Dupree. His revelations led to a 14-murder conspiracy indictment against 16 members of the Nation, including Yahweh ben Yahweh. Despite defense attempts to discredit Rozier, his testimony was instrumental in securing federal conspiracy convictions against ben Yahweh.
A Life Behind Bars
Rozier served his sentence under the protection of the Federal Witness Protection Program, adopting the alias Robert Rameses. Paroled in 1996, he expressed remorse for his past, claiming spiritual and intellectual transformation. Despite a new identity, Rozier's criminal tendencies resurfaced.
In 1999, Rozier was arrested for bouncing a $66 check, a seemingly minor offense that under California's three-strikes law led to a 25-years-to-life sentence. Tried as a habitual offender, Rozier was imprisoned at Mule Creek State Prison, denied parole in 2022 and 2025. As of July 2025, he remains incarcerated, awaiting another parole hearing in 2028.
An Unresolved Chapter: The Murder of Attilio Cicala
In July 1984, a homeless man named Attilio Cicala was murdered in New Jersey, a crime later linked to Rozier and John Armstrong as a purported sacrificial offering to ben Yahweh. However, by 2000, with key witnesses unavailable or unreliable, the charges were dropped due to insufficient credible evidence.
Robert Rozier's life is a cautionary tale of potential squandered and a descent into violence that shocked and fascinated the nation. His journey from gridiron glory to infamy remains a chilling reminder of how easily promising lives can veer into darkness.
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 Murders Committed
Robert Rozier kills a drunk man and his roommate in Miami as part of his initiation into the Nation of Yahweh.
Additional Murder
Rozier and another member kill 61-year-old Raymond Kelly, cutting off his ear as a trophy.
Opa-locka Murders
Rozier is charged with the first-degree murder of Anthony Brown and Rudolph Broussard during a shooting.
Turns State's Evidence
Rozier cooperates with police, confessing to four murders and implicating the Nation of Yahweh in a larger conspiracy.
Conspiracy Indictment
A 14-murder conspiracy indictment against 16 members of the Nation of Yahweh is built, relying heavily on Rozier's testimony.
Paroled
After serving ten years, Rozier is paroled under a new identity as part of the witness protection program.
Arrest for Bad Checks
Rozier is arrested for bouncing checks, leading to felony charges under California's three-strikes law.
Sentenced Again
Rozier is sentenced to 25 years-to-life for bouncing checks, marking his third strike.
Parole Denied
Rozier is denied parole after serving time for his third strike, with eligibility for another hearing set for 2028.