Bio

Fred L. Robinson was born on May 3, 1941. He was a Black man raised in the United States. In his adult life, Robinson entered into a long-term relationship with a woman named Susan Hill. They lived together for several years. Their relationship was troubled. In 1984, Susan made multiple attempts to leave him. However, Robinson often made her come back. This cycle of leaving and returning continued for some time.

In February 1987, Susan stayed with her father and stepmother, Sterleen Hill, in Yuma, Arizona, for a week. After this visit, Susan moved to California to live with other relatives. She did not inform Robinson about her new location.

On June 8, 1987, Robinson decided to find Susan and bring her back. He asked two friends, Theodore Washington and Jimmy Mathers, to go with him. They packed weapons into Robinson's car and drove to Yuma. When they arrived, events unfolded leading to significant consequences.

Murder Story

On June 9, 1987, Fred L. Robinson, along with two accomplices, entered the home of Sterleen Hill and her husband in Yuma County, Arizona. That night, Robinson and his friends, Theodore Washington and Jimmy Mathers, had traveled to Yuma to force Robinson’s girlfriend, Susan Hill, to return with them.

At around 11:45 p.m., they broke into the Hills' home. Using weapons they had brought, they ordered Sterleen and her husband to lie on the floor and tied them up. During the crime, one of the men, thought to be Washington, pointed a gun at Mr. Hill’s head while the others searched the home.

In a violent act, one of the men shot both Sterleen and her husband with a 12-gauge shotgun. Sterleen did not survive the attack, but Mr. Hill was able to survive his injuries.

Robinson, Washington, and Mathers were later arrested and charged with the murder. They were tried together and received the death penalty. However, during appeals, Mathers’ conviction was overturned due to insufficient evidence.

The trial began on December 1, 1987, and the verdict was reached on December 15, 1987. Robinson was sentenced to death on January 13, 1988, and there were no mitigating circumstances presented in his case.