Bio 

Robert Anthony Murray was born on March 30, 1963. He was also known as Tony Murray in court records. By December 1985, Murray was living in Missouri and became involved in a violent robbery with his brother, William Murray, and another man, Jesse Craig. The crime took place inside an apartment in St. Louis, Missouri. The victims were Jeffry Jackson and Craig Stewart, both cab drivers. Missouri records confirm that Robert Murray was later convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for what the state described as execution-style killings during a robbery.

Murder Story

On December 6, 1985, William Murray entered an apartment at 2331 A Park in St. Louis, Missouri. Inside were Jeffry Jackson, Craig Stewart, Gladys Nutall, and Claudia Hennings. William left, then returned about 30 minutes later with Robert Murray and Jesse Craig. William announced a robbery and ordered everyone to get on the floor.

Robert Murray held a gun while the apartment was searched. During the robbery, purses and wallets were taken from the victims. The men learned that another person was expected to come to the apartment around 3:00 a.m., so they stayed and waited.

During the crime, William Murray raped Gladys Nutall in the kitchen while Robert Murray looked on. Robert also sexually assaulted Claudia Hennings in the living room. Jeffry Jackson and Craig Stewart were bound, gagged, beaten, and threatened as the men tried to get more money from them.

Claudia Hennings escaped by jumping from a second-floor window and running for help. Gladys Nutall also escaped and later told authorities that she saw Robert Murray holding Craig Stewart and shooting him in the back. When police arrived, Jackson and Stewart were found dead in the kitchen from gunshot wounds.

Robert Murray was arrested on December 7, 1985. He was later identified in a lineup. Police said he also gave details about the crime scene that had not been released to him, which further connected him to the murders.

Murray was tried in 1986 and convicted of two counts of first-degree murder. The jury recommended death for both killings, and on February 6, 1987, he was sentenced to death. The Missouri Supreme Court affirmed his convictions and death sentences in 1988.

Murray continued to challenge his conviction and sentence through state and federal appeals, but the courts denied relief. The Eighth Circuit later affirmed the denial of his federal habeas petition.

Robert Anthony Murray was executed by lethal injection in Missouri on July 26, 1995. He was 32 years old.