Just like Mary Jane Garcia, the family members of Amy Robinson, who was murdered on 15 February
1998, received double justice. The two murderers, Neville and Michael Wayne
Hall were both executed by lethal injection in Texas on 8 February 2006 and 15
February 2011 respectively. I personally was satisfied that Hall was executed
on the same date the murder was committed, exactly 13 years later. I will give
information on the two murderers from different sources, before endorsing The
Garden of Angels Organization.
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Amy Robinson
|
After much looking, Hall and Neville
finally chose nineteen-year-old Amy Robinson, a friend and former coworker, because
she trusted them and they "didn't have to put bruises on her to get her in
the car." The evidence also revealed that Amy had a genetic disorder that
made her small and mentally and physically slow. She stood four feet five
inches tall and had the mental capacity of a third or fourth grader. On
February 15, 1998, Hall and Neville went looking for Amy in order to carry out
their murderous plan. They checked her schedule at the Kroger grocery store and
then lay in wait for her to ride by on her bicycle on her way to work. When the
pair saw Amy, they coaxed her into the car, promising to drop her at work after
they circled around in the country.
As Neville drove, Amy complained that
she did not want to be late for work. Neville then pretended to have a flat
tire and pulled the car over on a dirt road by a remote field. Hall and Neville
got out of the car and walked into the field carrying their weapons while an
unsuspecting Amy waited in the car listening to the radio. At some point, Hall
persuaded Amy to get out of the car, telling her she needed to go talk to
Neville near a tree. As Amy walked toward Neville, he fired a crossbow at her
several times. Neville missed each shot, but Amy became angry when the last
arrow grazed her hair. When Amy started walking back to the car, Hall shot her
in the back of her leg with his pellet gun. Hall and Neville laughed while Amy
cried in pain. Meanwhile, Neville returned to the car and got his .22 caliber
rifle. When Hall managed to maneuver Amy back into the field, Neville shot her
in the chest. Hall then shot her in the chest "three or four or six
times" with the pellet gun. Amy fell to the ground making loud noises and
shaking. Hall then stood over her and stared for five to ten minutes. The pair
worried that someone would hear Amy, so Neville shot her in the head, killing
her instantly. Hall and Neville then left Amy and her bicycle in an area where
they would not be easily discovered.
A few days later, they returned to the
scene. Neville fired shots into Amy's dead body, and Hall took keys and money
from her pocket. When Amy's family and coworkers realized she was missing, a
massive search ensued. More than two weeks later, authorities focused on Hall
and Neville. Fearing they would be caught, the pair fled Arlington but were
soon arrested when they attempted to cross the border into Mexico. The
authorities found Amy's body on the day of the arrest.
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Robert James Neville
Jr.
|
Robert
James Neville Jr. (5 October 1974 to 8 February 2006)
Inmate: Neville, Robert James Jr.
Date of Birth: 10/05/1974
TDCJ#: 999293
Date Received: 01/05/1999
Education: 11 years
Occupation: Laborer
Date of Offense: 02/15/98
County of Conviction: Tarrant County
Race: White
Gender: Male
Hair Color: Red
Eye Color: Blue
Height: 6 ft 00 in
Weight: 140
Date of Birth: 10/05/1974
TDCJ#: 999293
Date Received: 01/05/1999
Education: 11 years
Occupation: Laborer
Date of Offense: 02/15/98
County of Conviction: Tarrant County
Race: White
Gender: Male
Hair Color: Red
Eye Color: Blue
Height: 6 ft 00 in
Weight: 140
SOURCE: https://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagnews/release.php?id=1436&PHPSESSID=mceio5btgdla1al6jed83qb7r5
Wednesday,
February 1, 2006
Media Advisory: Robert James Neville Scheduled For Execution
AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott offers the following
information about Robert James Neville, who is scheduled to be executed after 6
p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006.
On December 9, 1998, Robert James Neville was sentenced to die for the kidnaping and murder of Amy Robinson. A summary of the evidence presented at trial follows.
On December 9, 1998, Robert James Neville was sentenced to die for the kidnaping and murder of Amy Robinson. A summary of the evidence presented at trial follows.
FACTS
OF THE CRIME
On
Feb. 15, 1998, Robert Neville and a friend, Michael Wayne Hall, saw 19-year-old
Amy Robinson riding her bicycle to a grocery store in Arlington where she
worked. The two men offered Robinson a ride but took her to a rural field in
Fort Worth, where they shot her to death.
Neville worked at the same grocery store where Robinson was employed as a sacker.
Two hours after her work day was to have begun, a store employee called Robinson’s family to say that the young woman had not arrived at work. Her family called the Arlington police. Later that day, police contacted Hall and Neville. Neville told police that he had both worked with Robinson and met with her socially. He told police that he had not seen her in a couple of months. During the subsequent investigation, however, Hall’s stepbrother told police that Hall had told him that he and Neville had abducted and killed Robinson.
Neville worked at the same grocery store where Robinson was employed as a sacker.
Two hours after her work day was to have begun, a store employee called Robinson’s family to say that the young woman had not arrived at work. Her family called the Arlington police. Later that day, police contacted Hall and Neville. Neville told police that he had both worked with Robinson and met with her socially. He told police that he had not seen her in a couple of months. During the subsequent investigation, however, Hall’s stepbrother told police that Hall had told him that he and Neville had abducted and killed Robinson.
A
warrant was issued for the arrest of both Neville and Hall. On March 3, the two
men were arrested at Eagle Pass, as they tried to cross into Mexico.
In
statements given to law enforcement, Neville acknowledged killing Robinson and
told police where to find Robinson’s body. He said that one day when he and
Hall had gotten drunk at the home of Neville’s grandmother, Neville told Hall
that he would “just like to [go] out and kill somebody....” Hall suggested that
they purchase guns. Neville told police that he and Hall were white
supremacists with the Aryan Brotherhood and that they wanted to kill blacks.
Neville and Hall purchased two .22-caliber rifles and ammunition and practiced
shooting the rifles.
Both
Neville and Hall were sentenced to death for kidnaping and murdering Amy
Robinson.
PROCEDURAL
HISTORY
Mar.
24, 1998 – A Tarrant County grand jury indicted Neville for capital murder.
Dec.
4, 1998 – A jury found Neville guilty of capital murder.
Dec.
9, 1998 – After a separate punishment hearing, the trial court assessed a
sentence of death.
Dec. 1, 1999 – The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Neville’s conviction and sentence.
Aug. 7, 2000 – Neville filed a state application for writ of habeas corpus in the trial court.
Dec. 1, 1999 – The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Neville’s conviction and sentence.
Aug. 7, 2000 – Neville filed a state application for writ of habeas corpus in the trial court.
Mar.
28, 2001 – The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied habeas relief.
July
19, 2001 – Neville filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in a Fort Worth
federal district court.
Sept.
14, 2004 – The federal district court denied habeas relief.
Sept.
24, 2004 – Neville filed a notice of appeal with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals.
Aug.
29, 2005 – The 5th Circuit Court denied Neville’s application for a Certificate
of Appealability, effectively rejecting his appeal.
Jan.
10, 2006 – Neville filed with the U.S. Supreme Court a motion seeking
permission to file an out-of-time petition for writ of certiorari.
Jan.
23, 2006 – The Supreme Court denied Neville’s motion.
EVIDENCE
RELATED TO PUNISHMENT
During
the punishment phase of Neville’s trial, evidence was introduced that Neville
had previously been convicted of burglary of a vehicle and burglary of a
habitation. When he was about sixteen or seventeen, Neville had sexual contact
with an eleven-year-old girl, a nine- or ten-year-old boy, and a seven-year-old
boy. When he was fourteen, Neville tossed kittens from a rooftop, and when he
was about sixteen or seventeen, he tied a cat by its tail to a tree and struck
the cat with a pole. When he worked at Kroger’s, Neville had ridiculed a
mentally challenged coworker and had avoided sacking groceries for minority
shoppers. An expert for the State, Dr. Randall Price, testified that Neville
was not mentally ill but had a severe psychopathic personality. Dr. Price
testified that Neville expressed enjoyment and excitement during Robinson’s
murder.
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Michael Wayne Hall
|
Michael
Wayne Hall (6 April 1979 to 15 February 2011)
Hall, Michael Wayne
Date of Birth: 04/06/1979
DR#: 999346
Date Received: 03/02/2000
Education: 9 years
Occupation: Laborer
Date of Offense: 02/15/1998
County of Offense: Tarrant
Native County: Dallas
Race: Black
Gender: Male
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Hazel
Height: 6' 02"
Weight: 218
Date of Birth: 04/06/1979
DR#: 999346
Date Received: 03/02/2000
Education: 9 years
Occupation: Laborer
Date of Offense: 02/15/1998
County of Offense: Tarrant
Native County: Dallas
Race: Black
Gender: Male
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Hazel
Height: 6' 02"
Weight: 218
Prior Prison
Record:
None.
Summary of
incident:
On 02/15/98, Hall and one co-defendant abducted a 19-year old white female from
a public street and drove her to a remote location. Hall and the co-defendant
shot the victim several times with a pellet pistol and several times with a
.22-caliber pistol. They were caught at the border when they were attempting to
leave the state.
Co-Defendants: Neville, Robert James Jr.
SOURCE:
Tuesday,
February 8, 2011
Media
Advisory: Michael Wayne Hall scheduled for execution
AUSTIN
– Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott offers the following information about
Michael Wayne Hall, who is scheduled to be executed after 6 p.m. on Tuesday,
February 15, 2011. Hall was sentenced to die for the 1998 Tarrant County
kidnapping and murder of nineteen-year-old Amy Robinson.
FACTS
OF THE CRIME
Hall
was angry with his life, so he and his friend Robert Neville decided to kill
someone.
On
Feb. 15, 1998, Hall and Neville saw 19-year-old Amy Robinson riding her bicycle
to a grocery store in Arlington where she worked. The two men offered Robinson
a ride and took her to a rural field in Fort Worth.
Hall
and Neville got out of the car and walked into the field while Amy waited in
the car listening to the radio. At some point, Hall persuaded Amy to get out of
the car, and Hall shot her in the back of her leg with his pellet gun. Hall and
Neville laughed while Amy cried in pain. Meanwhile, Neville returned to the car
and got his .22 caliber rifle and shot Amy in the chest. Hall then shot her in
the chest “three or four or six times”with the pellet gun. Amy fell to the
ground making loud noises and shaking. Hall stood over her and stared for five
to ten minutes, then Neville shot her in the head, killing her.
Neville
was executed on February 8, 2006, for the capital murder of Amy Robinson.
PUNISHMENT-RELATED
EVIDENCE
At
the sentencing phase of his trial, the parties introduced evidence regarding
Hall’s level of intelligence. Friends, family members, and some teachers
testified that Hall had difficulty in school and had difficulty with simple
daily tasks. The State introduced evidence suggesting that Hall was not
mentally challenged but was, rather, “lazy,” depressed, and difficult to
motivate. For its part, the trial court noted that motions Hall had prepared and
filed himself were “well drafted.” Hall had no prior convictions.
PROCEDURAL
HISTORY
March
24, 1998 – A Tarrant County grand jury indicted Hall for capital murder.
Feb.
17, 2000 – A Tarrant County jury found Hall guilty of capital murder.
Feb.
23, 2000 – After a punishment hearing, the court sentenced Hall to death.
Jan.
16, 2002 – The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Hall’s conviction and
sentence.
Jan.
17, 2002 – Hall filed an application for state habeas corpus relief.
March
13, 2002 – The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied Hall’s request for a
rehearing.
Oct.
7, 2002 – After Hall appealed to the United States Supreme Court, the court
vacated the judgment and remanded the case to the Texas Court of Criminal
Appeals for further consideration in light of Atkins v. Virginia, which barred
the death penalty for the mentally retarded.
Feb. 26, 2003 – The
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals adopted the lower court’s recommendation and
denied Hall’s application for relief.
May
5, 2004 – In connection with the appeal on remand from the Supreme Court, the
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, taking notice of the retardation-related
evidence developed at trial and in state habeas corpus proceedings, again
affirmed the judgment.
June
20, 2006 – Alleging that he was mentally retarded and thus exempt from the
death penalty, Hall filed a petition for federal habeas corpus relief.
Aug.
3, 2006 – A Fort Worth U.S. district court denied Hall’s petition for habeas
corpus relief.
June
30, 2008 – The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit vacated the
judgment of the lower court and remanded the case for an evidentiary hearing to
determine whether Hall was mentally retarded.
March
9, 2009 – After conducting a live hearing to determine whether Hall carried his
burden of showing that he was mentally retarded, the U.S. district court
determined that Hall had not carried his burden and denied relief.
Feb.
22, 2010 – The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit denied Hall
permission to appeal.
April
4, 2010 – The Fifth Circuit court denied Hall’s petition for a hearing by the
full court.
Oct.
18, 2010 – The United State Supreme Court denied Hall’s petition for certiorari
review.
Jan. 18, 2011 – The
Fifth Circuit court denied Hall’s motion to recall its mandate.
QUOTES
FROM THE VICTIMS’ SISTERS:
QUOTE 1: Last year when Hall's
execution date was set, Amanda Robinson, the victim's sister, told the Star-Telegram
that the punishment would allow her sister to finally rest in peace.
"I'm sad for his
family, but he's got to pay the price," she said. "You
can't go out and kill people."
QUOTE 2: Robinson's sister Amanda
refused to forgive him and said she attended the execution Tuesday night so her
face would be the last face Hall saw. "It was
fake; he wasn't sincere," she said of Hall's apology. "He was really scared. You could tell. ... I just don't
think he was remorseful. What about the pain he caused Amy? I'm glad [the
execution] was on Feb. 15, but it should have been a lot sooner."
QUOTE 3: Hall was executed 13 years
to the day Robinson was killed. "They turned a bad
day into a good day," said Ruth, another sister. "I feel like a weight's been lifted off my
shoulder."
ENDORSING
THE GARDEN OF ANGELS
I am happy that Amy Robinson can
rest in peace as both her killers were now terminated from the face of the
earth. It was double justice for her family members. Letting that two murderers
keep their lives are very insulting to her and her family.
I will endorse the Garden of Angels.
If you live in Texas, do go there and pay respect to all murdered victims and
do not forget Amy Robinson.
About the Garden of Angels
Our Garden of Angels was started originally at the place where the police discovered the body of Amy Robinson. I went to the place where Amy's body was found, and it was my thought that Amy should be remembered. It is due to the fact that I wanted her life to be remembered that I began the Garden of Angels.
One of the goals of the Garden of
Angels is to keep the focus on the memory of the life of the person who was
murdered. So often it is the perpetrator that is long recognized after the
funeral and the victim in society is soon forgotten. I was not going to let
that happen ever again to victims in our area. Our family members are going to
be remembered!
Amy never liked to be alone, so the
family of Vern Price put a cross for Vern next to Amy's. Also the family of
Chad Houston put in a cross for him as well. The Garden of Angels then started
to take on a life of its own. Others started to add their crosses. Soon, we had
27 crosses in our Garden.
Later, thanks to donations by several
companies and individuals, the new Garden of Angels was built. A Construction
gave us some land for this new Garden. Now we have 102 crosses. Each cross has
its own "story" because all of these crosses are erected in memory of
murder victims that have left this world too soon. These crosses also represent
a family that will remember their loved ones always.
The trees in the Garden of Angels
signify survivors whose life actions focus on stopping other tragic events from
reoccuring. It is the goal of the Garden of Angels to take the tragic and then
formulate a little magic. We are about kindness, hope for tomorrow, and helping
others.
How wonderful it is that no one need
wait a single day to make the world a better tomorrow. Please help us stop
abuse and violence.
God Bless,
Carolyn Barker
Founder, Our Garden of Angels
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