Robert Alton Harris

 

This case and the one I plan to do after this one, are both cases in which the perpetrators were executed in the state of California. I do not think there is a question in either case whether the perpetrator was guilty of the crime that sent them to their deaths but I do question the mentality of them both. But, here I am, as usual getting ahead of myself.

Few people will argue that Robert Alton Harris did not have a horrible childhood. It was repeatedly said that he was born in 1953 early (some say two months, some say three) due to the fact that his father, Kenneth, had kicked his mother, Evelyn, in the stomach. Both of his parents were alcoholics. Court reports would say that at birth Robert suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome. While I cannot necessarily dispute this officially and knowing the history I am unsure that it is not technically true, I do question that was a diagnosis in 1953.

At the time of his birth the Harris family was living at Fort Bragg in North Carolina as Kenneth was in the military and a decorated solider in World War II. It was fairly documented that Kenneth was abusive to all of his children but it seemed that Robert in particular was a target of his fathers rage due to the fact that Kenneth was convinced that Robert, who was the couple's fifth of their nine children, was the product of an affair his wife may, or may not, have been having. In 1962 Kenneth “left” the military and the family moved to California. I have put left in quotes because that is simply what my research stated but as you will soon see, one has to wonder if it was simply as simple as he just left.

The following year, in 1963, the oldest daughter, Barbara, was arrested for theft. It was said that once “in the safety of Juvenile Hall” she told authorities that her father was sexually abusing her. Reports state that Kenneth served eighteen months in jail for that crime but I found something else that indicated that he did not spend that time in jail but in a state mental hospital. In December of 1964 the police were called to the Harris home because Kenneth was drunk and “unusually abusive.” When the police arrived they found him with his pants down sexually abusing another daughter. He was sent to prison this time but it is unclear for how long.

Apparently in the meantime Evelyn continued to drink and have many men around, or in and out. With all of that going on it seems that she had little time to be a mother. Court reports say that Robert had “run-ins” with the police by the age of ten. At the age of thirteen he was sent to juvenile detention after he stole a car. He apparently got out and went back to live with his mother and at least some of his siblings. By now at least a few of them were no longer at home and living in another state. When he was fourteen his mother and what was described as “her latest man” packed up with the four youngest of her children and all but abandoned Robert and he was forced to fend for himself. He somehow made his way to Oklahoma where two of his oldest siblings were living. It was said that they enrolled him in school but he was literally suspended after one day. Not long later he stole a car and ended up in Florida. He was arrested and again ended up in juvenile detention.

It was said that while he was in Florida neither of his parents' whereabouts were known. It was documented that it was at this time that he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and he had made several suicide attempts. When he was nineteen the state could no longer hold him. He was released and apparently made his way back to California.

In June of 1973 he got married and the following year he and his wife had a son. It was 1975 that Robert got his first taste of adult prison. The information was a bit confusing as to exactly what happened so I will try to explain it the best that I can. The ultimate crime was the beating to death of a man. Some reports say the man's name was Robert Wheeler while others say his name was James. I suppose both could be correct. Some reports say that Wheeler was a roommate to one of Robert Harris' brothers, but others say he was a neighbor. Either way, as I said Wheeler was beaten to death and also set ablaze as I understand. Initially Harris claimed that he was protecting Wheeler's wife but later it was determined this was not the case and some say the beating was unprovoked. Harris was released on parole in early 1978 but while he was inside his wife had divorced him.

Sometime in 1978 his family had some sort of “reunion” as one of his siblings would later say that when she saw Robert she was fearful of him. Keep in mind too that apparently Evelyn was back in the picture or around at least but by 1978 she was on parole for a bank robbery, which some have thought gave Robert the idea for his next crime.

Robert, along with his younger brother, Daniel, got the idea to rob a bank in San Diego. On July 2, 1978 Daniel stole two guns from a neighbors home and he and Robert went to San Diego where they spent the next two days buying ammo and practicing their plan for the bank robbery. On July 5, 1978, “five months and twenty-six days” since his release from prison, the two brothers went to the area of the bank. Across the street, in a parking lot two sixteen year old boys.

John Mayeski and Michael Baker were sitting in the car just minding their own business eating cheeseburgers when Robert and Daniel Harris decided to approach them. Robert forced the two boys to drive to a remote area while Daniel followed them in another car. It was said, although I do not know how it could be confirmed or trusted to be true, that Robert told them that the vehicle was going to be used to rob a bank but no-one (indicating them also) would get hurt. However, once they got to the area Robert forced the boys out of the vehicle and to kneel. He then shot both boys “multiple times.” Robert and Daniel then went back to their place and a little while after murdering the boys they went back to rob the bank. They only got away with $2,000, but then again, they did not really “get away” either. A witness to the bank robbery followed the two brothers back to their home and called the police.

A time line stated that the boys were murdered about 11:45 that morning, the brothers left the bank after robbing it about 12:30 and the police were outside their home by 1:05. But, when the home was surrounded and the two brothers were arrested for the bank robbery no-one yet knew the boys had been murdered, especially not one of the responding officers, Steve Baker. He would later learn that this duo he helped arrest had also been responsible for his son's murder.

It was said that about 6:30 that night Daniel Harris spoke to investigators and it was then that he told them about the murders of the two boys. After making his statement and telling officers where to find them law enforcement were sent to the scene and discovered the boys. It was said that Robert was interviewed and while he admitted the bank robbery he did not admit to, or make any comment about the murders.

I did not find a lot about the day to day events of Roberts trial, only that he was convicted, and possibly sentenced on the same day on March 6, 1979. He was convicted on two counts of first degree murder and two counts of kidnapping. As I pointed out in the beginning, he was sentenced to death. I can only assume that besides the statement from Daniel, law enforcement had likely seized the car in which had been taken from the boys also. Having the car would presumably point to the brothers, and of course Daniel told investigators where to find the bodies. But, just because Daniel told investigators it was basically “all Robert” when it came to murdering the boys, I do not believe that could necessarily be trusted. At the time of the murders Daniel was eighteen and I did not hear anything about any prior criminal issues with him, but considering the family history I would bet money that he did have a record. But, that being said Robert already had a violent criminal history following him.

The only information I really have about Daniel is that he was “convicted” of kidnapping. This could have been in a plea deal that likely required he testify against his brother. Daniel was given a six year sentence and was released in 1983. However, I was able to determine that currently Daniel is a resident of San Quentin Prison (the same prison his brother was executed) but I have no details as to why he is there. The only thing I can tell you is that he is there and eligible for parole in September of 2024.

In 1981 Roberts sentence was affirmed. Then in 1982 an appeals court vacated his death sentence, but in 1984 the United States Supreme Court re-imposed the death sentence. There seemed to be appeal after appeal and they continued right up until he was executed. His execution was scheduled for 12:01 am on April 21, 1992 but he was not executed until after six that morning. Part of the reason was that four stays of executions were granted and then overturned in a period of nine hours. Most of the late hour appeals centered around the use of the gas chamber or the practice of execution itself. Finally the United States Supreme Court did something I am unsure they had done before or have ever done since. The Supreme court, in their last ruling stated that the execution was to go on and that they were not allowing any stays through the lower courts. At that time Harris became the first person to be executed in California since 1976 when the death penalty was re-instated.

It should be noted that an appeal for clemency to the Governor of California was sent. At the time the Governor was Pete Wilson. Ironically Wilson had been the mayor of San Diego at the time of the murders. Wilson conducted a live news conference to address the clemency. He was quoted as saying “As great as is my compassion for Robert Harris the child, I cannot excuse or forgive the choice made by Robert Harris the man.” Wilson made his statement and left the podium without taking questions. But, I wanted to add this here because I think that is a great way to put things. As I have said everyone seems to agree that Robert had a horrible childhood with parents who seemed to abuse him or neglect him. But, plenty of us have bad childhoods, just maybe not that bad, and we do not turn into murderers. I was just left to wonder if Robert had been given a chance in life as a young child to have a normal life, or even if he would have spent the rest of his life (obviously not on death row and into the gas chamber) if he could have become a better person. At the time of his execution he was thirty-nine years old so he was twenty-five when he went in. While some people in prison are “their crime” meaning they will never learn no matter how many chances they are given while there are others who do learn eventually. We will never know which Robert Harris would have been.