Robert Joe Wagner was born on November 28, 1971. He grew up in Australia. There isn't much detailed information available about his early life. However, by 1991, he had moved to Salisbury North, South Australia. That year, he befriended John Justin Bunting. 

Robert Joe Wagner was involved in a series of murders that occurred between August 1992 and May 1999 in South Australia. The victims were chosen at random based on imagined infractions. Some were suspected to be pedophiles, while others were targeted due to personal dislikes towards them, including their weight, drug use, or sexual orientation.

Wagner worked closely with John Bunting, who was the ringleader of the group. They would often invite their victims over under false pretenses. For instance, Clinton Douglas Trezise was invited to Wagner’s home and was later killed with a shovel. After his death, his body was buried and discovered two years later.

Another victim, Ray Allan Peter Davies, faced a brutal end after he was subdued and tortured in a bathtub. Wagner and Bunting were involved in the planning and execution of this murder. They also made efforts to access the victim's finances after his death.

Suzanne Allen, another victim, was found wrapped in plastic bags in Wagner's house. After her death, Wagner continued to collect her pension, claiming she had a heart attack. This pattern of murder and identity theft continued with other victims.

Michelle Gardiner was a transgender woman who was also a victim. Wagner and Bunting abducted Gardiner, tortured her, and her remains were later kept in a barrel.

Vanessa Lane, Wagner's ex-partner, was tortured for information and ultimately killed. She was another victim whose body was discovered in barrels.

The murder of David Johnson was significant because it was the only killing that took place in Snowtown itself. He was lured under false pretenses and quickly overpowered and murdered.

As the investigation unfolded, police discovered multiple bodies in barrels located in a disused bank vault in Snowtown. This led to the arrest of Wagner, Bunting, and others involved in the murders.

During their trial, Wagner was convicted of ten murders and received multiple life sentences. He confessed to some of the killings but downplayed his role. In his statements, he justified the killings by claiming a desire to "take action" against those he saw as harmful to society.

Wagner's actions, along with those of his fellow perpetrators, left a lasting impact on the community and the families of the victims. The so-called "bodies in barrels murders" shocked the nation and led to extensive media coverage and ongoing investigations into the events surrounding these brutal killings.