Robert Spangler

American Murderer

Robert Spangler (January 10, 1933 – August 5, 2001) is a name that resonates with horror and tragedy in the annals of American crime. This serial killer confessed to the brutal murders of his first and third wives, as well as his two children. He remains a figure of intrigue due to the chilling circumstances surrounding his crimes and the subsequent investigations. Spangler was also suspected of murdering his second wife, Sharon Cooper.

Quick Facts

• Born: January 10, 1933, Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
• Died: August 5, 2001 (aged 68), MCFP Springfield, Springfield, Missouri, U.S.
• Criminal Status: Deceased
• Conviction: First-degree murder (18 U.S.C. § 1111)
• Criminal Penalty: Life imprisonment
• Victims: 4-5
• Span of Crimes: 1978–1993
• Country: United States
• States: Colorado and Arizona
• Date Apprehended: 2000
• Imprisoned at: MCFP Springfield

The Horrific Murders

On December 30, 1978, in the quiet suburb of Littleton, Colorado, Robert Spangler executed a plan that would forever alter the lives of those around him. Luring his 45-year-old wife, Nancy, into the basement under the guise of a "surprise," he coldly shot her in the head with a revolver. But the horror didn’t stop there. He ascended the stairs and turned his gun on his teenage children, 17-year-old Susan and 15-year-old David. David, tragically, was still alive after the initial shot; Spangler smothered him with a pillow to finish the grim task.

In a twisted maneuver to manipulate the narrative, Spangler staged the scene to imply that Nancy had killed their children and then turned the gun on herself. Yet, the truth was far darker.

Fast forward to April 11, 1993. After his marriage to aerobics instructor Donna Sundling faltered, Spangler took her hiking in the Grand Canyon, ostensibly to patch things up. Instead, he pushed her off a 140-foot precipice, ending her life in a calculated act of violence. Just a year later, on October 2, 1994, he reconnected with ex-wife Sharon Cooper, who tragically died of a drug overdose. Spangler, who had taken out a life insurance policy on her, collected $20,000 from her untimely death—the only unnatural death among his significant others that he wasn’t charged for.

Life and Career

Spangler grew up in Ames, Iowa, where his father was a civil engineer, even lending his name to a laboratory at Iowa State University. He was active in sports during high school, where he met his first wife, Nancy. They married in 1955 and settled in Littleton, Colorado, welcoming their son David in 1961 and daughter Susan in 1963. By 1978, Spangler was employed by the American Water Works company, but his career was varied. He worked for Honeywell, served as a public relations director for a nonprofit organization, and even dabbled as a part-time disc jockey. He also had a passion for theatre, participating as an actor.

The Deaths of Wives and Children

The aftermath of December 30, 1978, revealed a chilling scene. The bodies of Nancy, Susan, and David were discovered in their home, each shot with a .38-caliber handgun. Nancy lay slumped over a typewriter, a bullet wound in her forehead, while Susan was found partially clothed in bed, shot in the back, and David in his chest. A typewritten suicide note, signed simply with Nancy's initial, was found at the scene, casting a dark shadow over the events of that fateful morning.

Initially, Spangler claimed he had left the house early, returning only after the grisly discovery. However, his account changed under scrutiny. Two private polygraph tests yielded inconclusive results regarding his involvement, but crucial evidence came to light: the murder weapon belonged to Spangler, and gunshot residue was detected on his right palm.

Despite the compelling evidence, the Arapahoe County coroner ruled the case a murder-suicide, and the sheriff's office was unable to counteract these findings, leading to the case's closure. In a chilling twist, Spangler married Sharon Cooper seven months later and moved into the house where his family had perished. Their relationship was fraught with tension, and after a divorce in 1988, Spangler married his third wife, Donna.

The Grand Canyon Incident

When Spangler and Donna trekked to the Grand Canyon in April 1993, he claimed she had fallen to her death while they were taking photos. However, the autopsy revealed she suffered massive injuries from the fall, including abrasions, contusions, and multiple fractures. The death was officially ruled an accident, and Spangler gained notoriety as a grieving husband appearing on national television, discussing the dangers of hiking.

After Donna's death, he rekindled his relationship with Sharon, only for her to be found dead from an overdose in his home in October 1994. Remarkably, this death was never investigated, and Spangler profited from her insurance policy.

Investigation and Confession

The investigation into Spangler’s past took a turn in January 1999, when cold case investigators from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and local authorities connected the dots between the suspicious deaths. They enlisted the help of the FBI, framing the case as one of insurance fraud and murder.

As they began to piece together Spangler's history, it became clear that he was a man of intelligence and charm, successful in various fields. The FBI agents were particularly intrigued by a letter sent to a woman in Colorado, in which Spangler mentioned having terminal cancer.

Faced with mounting evidence, investigators approached Spangler for an interview. They videotaped the session to ensure the confession could be used in court. Spangler's terminal cancer complicated matters, but he agreed to speak with them about his past.

During the hours-long interview, Spangler eventually confessed to the murders of his first wife and children, as well as the killing of Donna in the Grand Canyon. His chilling words, "You've got your serial," revealed the depth of his malevolence. He rationalized his actions as easier than divorce, painting a picture of a man who viewed life as disposable.

In federal court, Spangler pled guilty to first-degree murder for the death of Donna Sundling and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. He died of cancer while incarcerated at MCFP Springfield.

In Popular Culture

Spangler's story has been featured in various true crime media, highlighting the complexities and tragedies of his life:

• Crime Stories, Season 8, Episode 6, "A Way with Murder" (December 9, 2010)
• My Favorite Murder, Episode 235, "Mr. Zip" (August 13, 2020)
• Devil Among Us, Season 1, Episode 3, "Trail of Blood" (July 30, 2020)
• Monstruo, Season 2, Episode 8, "The Husband" (December 11, 2019)
• In Plain Sight, Season 2, Episode 7, "Terrified to Death" (May 31, 2019)
• The Widower, Season 2, Episode 13, "Park Predators Podcast" (August 17, 2021)
• Spangler, Episode 1, "FBI Profilers: Criminal Archives Podcast" (July 7, 2024)

Sources

• "Dying Man Admits He Killed Four in Family". Los Angeles Times. 2000-10-22. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
• "Robert Spangler – Colorado Serial Killer and Child Murderer by Mask of Sanity". Indie Drop-In Network - Great Podcasts for Listeners and Exposure for Creators. March 9, 2021. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
• "Colorado News and Denver News: The Denver Post". extras.denverpost.com. Retrieved 2022-03-15.

For a deeper dive into this chilling case, you can explore the original Wikipedia article.