Bio

Robert Eugene Hendrix was born on October 21, 1966, in the United States. Before the murders, Hendrix became involved in a burglary with his cousin, Elmer Scott. Scott was caught and entered a plea agreement with the State of Florida. As part of that agreement, Scott agreed to testify truthfully against Hendrix in the burglary case.

Because of Scott’s deposition, Hendrix was arrested and charged with armed burglary of a dwelling. Prosecutors offered Hendrix a plea deal of four years in prison followed by five years of probation. His court date in that case was set for August 28, 1990.

Hendrix did not want to accept the plea offer and did not want Scott to testify. Before the court date, he told several people that he intended to kill Scott to stop him from testifying. He also discussed plans to kill Scott with his live-in girlfriend, Alma Denise Turbyville, also known as Denise Turbyville.

According to the prosecution, Hendrix tried to obtain a “throw-away” gun that could not be traced back to him. On August 27, 1990, the day before his scheduled court date, he came home with a handgun, tried to make a silencer, and test-fired the weapon.

Murder Story

On the night of August 27, 1990, Robert Eugene Hendrix decided to go to the home of his cousin, Elmer Scott. Scott was scheduled to testify against him in an armed burglary case the next day. Hendrix brought a mask, gloves, a hat, and a handgun. His live-in girlfriend, Denise Turbyville, drove him near the Scotts’ mobile home in Lake County, Florida, and dropped him off. She then drove to the county line and waited.

Michelle Scott let Hendrix into the home. Elmer Scott was reportedly in the bathroom shaving. Hendrix asked to use the bathroom, then came out and shot Elmer Scott in the head. After the shooting, Michelle Scott tried to fight him. Hendrix attacked her with a knife and cut her throat. Hendrix also hit Elmer Scott in the head with the gun and cut his throat with a knife. According to his later account to Turbyville, he cut Elmer Scott’s throat “for insurance.” Court records state that as Hendrix shot Elmer Scott, he said, “I’ll see you in hell!”

Michelle Scott was also shot and stabbed. Both victims suffered gunshot wounds, blunt-force injuries, and knife wounds. Their infant daughter was in the home but was not harmed. After the murders, Hendrix returned to the car. Turbyville heard several shots before he came back and told her, “Don’t look, just go.” When they returned home, Hendrix showered and burned his clothing behind the residence.

Investigators later arrested Hendrix and charged him in connection with the killings. Turbyville and several other witnesses testified that Hendrix admitted committing the murders to stop Scott from testifying. Turbyville pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and received a 75-year prison sentence. On September 18, 1990, Hendrix was indicted on charges including two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of first-degree murder, and armed burglary.

On September 20, 1991, a jury found Robert Eugene Hendrix guilty on all counts. On September 23, 1991, the jury unanimously recommended death for both first-degree murder convictions. Hendrix was sentenced to death for both murders. He also received prison terms for conspiracy and armed burglary. On direct appeal, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the first-degree murder convictions and death sentences but reversed one of the conspiracy convictions because the evidence showed one conspiracy, not two separate conspiracies.

Hendrix continued to challenge his convictions and death sentences through state and federal appeals. His later claims included allegations involving shackling during trial, ineffective assistance of counsel, mitigation evidence, and undisclosed impeachment evidence involving a jailhouse witness. The Florida Supreme Court rejected his postconviction claims in 2005, and his federal habeas appeal was later denied.

Robert Eugene Hendrix was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison in Starke, Florida, on April 23, 2014. He was pronounced dead at 6:21 p.m.