Bio

Robert Brian Waterhouse was born on December 16, 1946. He grew up in New York. Not much is known about his early life or his family. As a young man, he faced troubles that influenced his later actions. In 1966, Waterhouse was involved in a serious crime. He was charged with the murder of a 77-year-old woman named Ella Carter during a burglary. Waterhouse pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a life sentence. However, he was paroled after serving eight years.

After his release, Waterhouse moved to Florida. Throughout his life, he struggled with alcohol and had a history of violence. These issues seemed to affect his behavior and relationships with others.

While in Florida, he worked as a plasterer and drywall installer. His life took a significant turn in January 1980. Waterhouse was accused of committing another serious crime, which led to his arrest. Events in his life prior to this incident raised questions about his character and actions throughout his earlier years.

Waterhouse spent over 30 years on death row in Florida for his crimes before being executed in February 2012. His long time in prison reflected a complex legal journey, but his early life marked the beginning of his troubled path.

Murder Story

Robert Brian Waterhouse was convicted of two murders in Florida. The first victim was Deborah Kammerer, a 29-year-old woman. Her body was found on January 3, 1980, in the mud flats of Tampa Bay. She had been raped, beaten, and ultimately drowned. Police struggled to identify her until neighbors recognized her from missing person reports. An anonymous tip led police to Waterhouse.

Investigators discovered blood, hair, and fibers in Waterhouse's car that matched Kammerer. During questioning, Waterhouse initially denied knowing Kammerer but later admitted to having sex with her. He was arrested on January 9, 1980.

Waterhouse had a prior conviction in 1966 for murdering a 77-year-old woman in New York. He received a life sentence then but was paroled after eight years. His history and the evidence found in his car played a significant role in his trial.

Waterhouse was convicted of first-degree murder in September 1980 and sentenced to death. His initial death sentence was overturned in 1988 by the Florida Supreme Court, which ordered a new sentencing hearing. In 1990, he was again sentenced to death by a new jury.

Throughout the years on death row, Waterhouse maintained his innocence. He argued that evidence had been destroyed and that he was wrongfully convicted due to issues in his trial. Last-minute appeals for his case continued into 2012. On February 15, 2012, after 31 years on death row, Waterhouse was executed by lethal injection in Florida. He was 65 years old at the time of his death. His execution was noted as one of the longest serves on death row in the state.