Bio

Robert Stacy Yarbrough was born on June 1, 1978, in Virginia. He grew up in a neighborhood in Mecklenburg County, where he attended local schools. During his early life, he had a troubled family background. There are indications that he may have faced challenges and difficulties while growing up. This environment could have impacted his behavior and choices in his teenage years.

Yarbrough attended high school in the area and had friends, including Dominic Rainey. The two would eventually become involved in a serious crime together. It appears that as a teenager, Yarbrough struggled to find a positive path and made choices that led him down a darker road.

After completing high school, Yarbrough's life took a turn when he and Rainey committed a robbery that would change everything. On May 8, 1997, they targeted a local store owned by Cyril Hugh Hamby, who was 77 years old. This theft was not just an act of theft; it escalated to violence and ultimately led to Yarbrough's sentencing for serious crimes.

Yarbrough's early life seems marked by significant struggles. These experiences shaped him and contributed to the decisions he made later as a young adult.

Murder Story

On May 8, 1997, Robert Stacy Yarbrough, then 18 years old, and his friend Dominic Rainey, who was 17, entered a store owned by 77-year-old Cyril Hugh Hamby in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, to commit a robbery. They had a pre-planned scheme to steal cash and other items from the store.

Yarbrough and Rainey approached Hamby with a shotgun. They tied his hands behind his back using an extension cord. After tying him up, Yarbrough asked Hamby where he kept guns in the store. Hamby said he had no guns. This reply made Yarbrough angry. He kicked Hamby in the head and then searched the cash register for money.

When Hamby again insisted that he did not own any firearms, Yarbrough took out a pocketknife and began to stab at Hamby's neck. As he did this, Hamby pleaded with him to stop. Yarbrough continued cutting, and the wounds were severe enough that Hamby bled to death.

After the attack, Yarbrough and Rainey fled the store with cash, beer, wine, and cigarettes. The two were arrested a few days later when police found Yarbrough’s blood-stained clothing.

During the investigation, Rainey testified against Yarbrough in exchange for a reduced sentence. Yarbrough was charged with capital murder and robbery. Forensic evidence, including DNA from the crime scene, linked Yarbrough to the murder of Hamby.

In 1998, Yarbrough was convicted and sentenced to death. However, the Virginia Supreme Court later overturned the sentence. A second jury resentenced him to death in December 2000, and this sentence was upheld by higher courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

On June 25, 2008, Yarbrough was executed by lethal injection. His final words expressed a message for his children. The crime he committed, along with its violent nature, drew significant attention and contributed to discussions about capital punishment in Virginia.