Bio

Robert Excell White was born on March 14, 1938, in Mississippi. He had a troubled upbringing that impacted his later life. White lived with his family but faced various challenges during his childhood and adolescence. There are limited details about his early family life, schooling, or relationships.

As a young adult, White began drinking at an early age. He struggled with alcohol problems, which later contributed to his actions in life. He also had a medical condition: he suffered from epilepsy. These factors combined affected his behavior and decision-making.

By the time he was in his thirties, White had experienced several conflicts in his personal life. He had been married multiple times and had a history of domestic violence, including actions against his pregnant wives. His life was marked by instability and aggression.

In May 1974, White's life took a darker turn. He committed several violent acts that would lead to his arrest and conviction. Days leading up to his crimes, he was heavily drinking, which likely influenced his actions.

Ultimately, White was known as "Excell the Executioner" due to his violent crimes. He was sentenced to death for his actions, marking a significant shift from his early life. His early experiences and decisions contributed to the man he became, culminating in his execution on March 30, 1999.

Murder Story

On May 10, 1974, Robert Excell White began his crime spree in Waco, Texas. He fatally stabbed Roy Perryman, a 53-year-old gun collector, and stole over two dozen firearms, including a .30-caliber machine gun. After killing Perryman, White picked up his two companions, James and Gary Livingston. They drove north towards McKinney, Texas.

On the morning of May 11, White and the Livingstons stopped at Hilltop Grocery Store, owned by 73-year-old Preston Broyles. They forced Broyles and two teenage customers, Gary Coker and Billy St. John, into the store. During the robbery, they shot all three men execution-style, with the victims pleading for their lives. After the shooting, they stole $6 from the cash register and $60 from the victims’ wallets before fleeing the scene.

White's crime spree came to an end when he surrendered to authorities in Cleveland, Mississippi, on May 14, 1974. He confessed to the murders, and police later apprehended the Livingston brothers. White was charged with the capital murder of Broyles and was sentenced to death in August 1974.

Over the years, White’s conviction was overturned, but he was retried and again sentenced to death in 1987 for the killing of Broyles. He was not tried for the other murders. White spent nearly 25 years on death row before he was executed by lethal injection on March 30, 1999, at the age of 61.

His last words before the execution were, "Send me to my maker, warden."