Robert Charles Browne
Encyclopedia
Robert Charles Browne (born October 31, 1952) is an American
murder
er serving a double-life sentence Minnesota Department of Corrections.
Browne was born in Coushatta, Louisiana
. According to a Red River Parrish Sheriff, Browne grew up as one of nine children in a hardscrabble family. He was a high school
dropout
who joined the United States Army
and served from 1969 to 1976, when he was dishonorably discharged
for drug abuse
.
Browne was arrested on March 28, 1995 on the charge of first-degree murder in the death of Heather Dawn Church, 13, on September 17, 1991. He initially plea
ded not guilty
to the charges, however, on May 25, 1995, in a plea agreement, changed his plea to guilty so that prosecutors would not seek the death penalty.
On July 27, 2006, in a similar plea agreement, he confessed to the death of Rocio Delpilar Sperry, 15, who was killed on November 10, 1987, at a Colorado Springs
apartment complex.
In his confession, authorities say Browne admitted to murdering up to 48 other people in a period spanning from 1970 until his arrest. Browne instigated a new investigation by sending a cryptic letter to the authorities in 2000. The letter read "Seven sacred virgins entombed side by side, those less worthy are scattered wide, the score is you 1, the other team 48.” The letter included a hand drawn map with outlines of Colorado, Washington, California
, New Mexico
, Texas
, Oklahoma
, Louisiana, Arkansas
and Mississippi
, with the body count written inside each state.
Reference book: Hello Charlie, Letters From A Serial Killer. Written by: Charlie Hess and Davin Seay Published by Atria Books, Trademark of Simon and Schuster,Inc, 2008
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
er serving a double-life sentence Minnesota Department of Corrections.
Browne was born in Coushatta, Louisiana
Coushatta, Louisiana
Coushatta is a town in and the parish seat of rural Red River Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is situated on the east bank of the Red River. The community is approximately forty-five miles south of Shreveport on U.S. Highway 71...
. According to a Red River Parrish Sheriff, Browne grew up as one of nine children in a hardscrabble family. He was a high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
dropout
Dropping out
Dropping out means leaving a group for either practical reasons, necessities or disillusionment with the system from which the individual in question leaves....
who joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and served from 1969 to 1976, when he was dishonorably discharged
Military discharge
A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve.-United States:Discharge or separation should not be confused with retirement; career U.S...
for drug abuse
Drug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
.
Browne was arrested on March 28, 1995 on the charge of first-degree murder in the death of Heather Dawn Church, 13, on September 17, 1991. He initially plea
Plea
In legal terms, a plea is simply an answer to a claim made by someone in a civil or criminal case under common law using the adversary system. Colloquially, a plea has come to mean the assertion by a criminal defendant at arraignment, or otherwise in response to a criminal charge, whether that...
ded not guilty
Guilty
Guilty commonly refers to the feeling of guilt, an experience that occurs when a person believes that they have violated a moral standard.Guilty or The Guilty may also refer to:-Law:*Guilty plea, a formal admission of legal culpability...
to the charges, however, on May 25, 1995, in a plea agreement, changed his plea to guilty so that prosecutors would not seek the death penalty.
On July 27, 2006, in a similar plea agreement, he confessed to the death of Rocio Delpilar Sperry, 15, who was killed on November 10, 1987, at a Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
apartment complex.
In his confession, authorities say Browne admitted to murdering up to 48 other people in a period spanning from 1970 until his arrest. Browne instigated a new investigation by sending a cryptic letter to the authorities in 2000. The letter read "Seven sacred virgins entombed side by side, those less worthy are scattered wide, the score is you 1, the other team 48.” The letter included a hand drawn map with outlines of Colorado, Washington, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, Louisiana, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
and Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, with the body count written inside each state.
External links
- Colorado killer details murders
- Colorado man says he committed 48 murders
- El Paso County Sheriff's Department statement
Reference book: Hello Charlie, Letters From A Serial Killer. Written by: Charlie Hess and Davin Seay Published by Atria Books, Trademark of Simon and Schuster,Inc, 2008