Bio

Robert Lee Tarver Jr. was born in 1947. He grew up in Alabama, where he faced a difficult childhood. His family was poor, and as a result, he had a tough upbringing. He was married at a young age, but his wife died of cancer in 1968. This loss had a significant effect on him.

Throughout his life, Tarver had several run-ins with the law. He was arrested multiple times and had a history of robbery. In October 1982, he was placed on parole after serving time for a robbery conviction. However, his parole was revoked soon after because he failed to report to his parole officer, maintain employment, and pay fees.

In the years leading up to his later crimes, Tarver struggled with a lack of direction. He lived with his grandmother for some time and did odd jobs around her house to support himself. Despite these challenges, he did not give up on trying to improve his situation.

Murder Story

On the evening of September 15, 1984, Hugh Kite, the owner of Kite's Grocery and Bait Store in Cottonton, Alabama, was preparing to close his store. He was finishing up after a busy day when he went outside to pick up a bag of ice for his wife, who had called him to ask for it. A 10-year-old helper was inside the store at the time. As Kite walked around the corner of the store, he was shot three times with a .38-caliber revolver. After being shot, he was robbed of cash.

A few witnesses reported hearing gunshots that evening. One witness, a boy named Jerry Ford, was waiting in the store and heard two shots. He went outside and called for Kite but received no answer. At that time, Bennie Davis, another visitor to the store, found Kite lying on the ground after entering the store. He immediately contacted the police. When the authorities arrived, they determined that Kite had died from the gunshot wounds.

The investigation into Kite's murder led police to several key pieces of evidence. Tire tracks were discovered near the scene, matching the tires of a vehicle owned by Robert Lee Tarver Jr. A beer can found at the scene also had Tarver's fingerprint on it. Witnesses later testified that Tarver had been seen near the store that evening with Andrew Lee Richardson, his accomplice. Richardson pleaded guilty to lesser charges and provided testimony against Tarver during the trial.

Tarver was arrested on October 11, 1984, and was charged with capital murder for Kite's death. During the trial, he denied any involvement, claiming he was not near the store on the night of the murder. Despite his defense, the jury found him guilty. They recommended a life sentence without the possibility of parole. However, the judge decided to override the jury's recommendation and sentenced Tarver to death.

After many appeals stretched over 15 years, Tarver was executed in Alabama's electric chair on April 14, 2000. He maintained his innocence up until his execution.