It was premeditated.. December, 2008. Each episode of the ten-part series profiles a different prisoner as they recount the events that led up to them being banged up behind bars. The show has access to such killers as 54 year-old James Robertson, who is awaiting being put to death in Florida for killing his cell mate Frank Hart. Netflix/A+E I Am a Killer Docuseries: Documentary with death row inmates give first hand accounts of Listen to the producers discuss the making of the series in the officialpodcast. To producers, he says, You think thats really something, dont you?. He was born in 1943 in Houston, Texas, United States. When there was only one season James Robertson was the only one I had any sympathy for because he took responsibility and wasn't using his "performance" to get a new trial, sentence commuted, etc. Instead of merely making them the subject, the murderers featured in the series finally have agency over their own narrativeall the while giving us a riveting, long-overdue glimpse into the mind-set of a killer. He argued: I'd much rather have a needle stuck in me than be electrocuted but I could go either way. Weak, old and asleep, Hart was hardly a challenge for the large frame and gritted teeth determination of his cellmate, 45 year-old James Robertson. Dale Wayne Sigler was sentenced to death in 1991 for the murder of John William Zeltner Jr at a Subway sandwich shop in Arlington, Texas, where the latter was working. He said: They just put somebody in the cell, man, and take all of his privileges from him for years and years and years. Once behind bars, he chafed at prison rules and regulations, acting out in a series of stabbings and riots that culminated with the murder of his cellmate and effectively ensured a life behind bars. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. Many many people have horrible abusive childhoods but dont commit hideous crimes and murder. Speaking in the documentary, Roberton said he doesn't feel bad about it [killing someone].. As a means of getting out of solitary confinement, where he had been held for nearly 20 years, James killed his cellmate to go to death row, because living conditions there could be better. I wish he had a chance at a normal life in some way, and hearing about his plead to be on death row just made me sad.. though I understand why he wants it. In reality, it took less than five. Unfortunately he was in prison since he was 17, sorrounded by more hatred, coldness and no empathy for all he'd been throught, how can you expect someone to have something he hadnt even knew in the 1st place. During his adolescence his experience with alcohol and drugs intensified. While James frequently said, Ive never had a family, Ive only lived, never existed, never experienced anything, and Ive never even felt loved, my lifes pretty wasted. }); You don't feel anything., When asked by the producer how he wanted to be remembered, he said: somebody who speaks the truth.. Your only contact with other human beings comes from cursory exchanges with guards and the odd few minutes of daily yard talk with your neighbours - a ragtag bunch of killers, gangsters, drug traffickers, rapists and child molesters. I watched this documentary/ interview of James Robertson. pg.acq.push(function() { Of course that would fuck with a person. WebCorbin James Robertson: Birthdate: July 12, 1920: Death: June 30, 1991 (70) Place of Burial: Houston, Harris County, Texas, United States: Immediate Family: Husband of Wilhelmina Daisy Smith Father of Cullen John Robertson. A baby-faced Dickens explains that he didnt know what else to do, and seems genuinely sorry for his actions. A short and sleight man, as he slept he could be mistaken for a child, such was the small bump he made in the beds top bunk. }); In 2018 James Robertson became known for having his story featured in the first episode (season 1) of the documentary series "I Am A Killer" shown on Netflix. In which he attempted to rob a small business once until the security guards caught him and he had a wrestling match with them and attempted to get away but couldnt, which is primarily why hes in prison. Born on July 13, 1956, Frank Hart was a native of the state of Florida. His combative attitude and unrelenting refusal to compromise or cooperate in almost anyway saw him put almost permanently into solitary confinement. A lifetime long criminal who first went to jail for robbery and attempted assault when he was 16, he has spent his time in prison committing a string of violent crimes that by 2008 culminated in a rap sheet totalling more than 100 years of prison time owed to the state. As Robertson waited for the guard to walk past the cell on his first rounds of the night, he tied some of his laundry fresh white sports socks together, silently and tightly. I wanted to get on death row, Robertson says multiple times. To me he was a different person the second half of the show and it may sound cliche but sometimes all you need is love. He rebelled frequently and often with quite shocking results. Any excuse. Or, as its known in Florida penitentiary lingo, close management. eventAction: 'click_adunit' Desperate to find a way out and determined not to share his cell with a sexual offender, James decided to take matters into his own hands. They sleep most of the day, but if you go by at nighttheyre fighting with one another. Then do something about it!! MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of He definitely deserved a second chance. He is a renowned pastor and televangelist in America. (Just need name and inmate i.d.) Miraculously he emerges some three days later, having been battered but is still alive. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. In the closing moments of the first episode, Robertson revealed he has dropped his appeal to be spared the death penalty, admitting he was ready to go and confessed he would rather die by lethal injection than electrocution. As such, 'I Am A Killer: Released' often feels incomplete and leaves the viewer feeling like they did not gain anything insightful from the nearly two hours that would be spent on it. You can get on Securus to write him. He was first arrested for robbery and attempted assault at the age of 16, but has since racked up over window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { Plenty of people grow up in abusive homes and dont harm other people. } WebFour years of legal wrangling later, Robertson would receive the death sentence for his crime. Nonetheless, viewers should note that there is no news of a specific execution date as of writing. He is a founder of the James Robison Evangelistic Association and earns an annual salary of $500 Thousand. Sexual battery convict, Frank Hart, had no idea that he would meet his end behind bars at the hands of a co-prisoner. This article was written completely independently, see more details here. I thought I was the only one who had real sympathy for him. Its sad to see them go after their visits even, Ive never felt this way before. While hes not entirely blameless, his remorse is palpableand the fact that the prosecution appeared to manipulate eyewitness testimony to fit their own version of events is troubling, to say the least. In the story he is the Donny boy. Some convicts,like Foster Jr. or Justin Dickens, who was just 17 when he was charged with capital murder, inspire empathy. After years in solitary confinement, James 13 yrs for assaulting a C.O.!?!? Sigler was arrested six days after the murder. James Robertson knew that the fastest way out of prison was to keep his nose clean and respect the guards and the system. ga('ads.send', { Treated to a private exercise area, better food, and generally more freedoms (think: television and phone call access, longer visiting hours), death row inmates had it pretty good, according to a prison nurse who worked at the facility where Robertson was incarcerated. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), With him saying, They took everything from me, my tv, my property, that s**** torture man, in distraught. He did, however, want death row. Its a survival thing. Finally, he got mad and gave up all hope and was like, ima go ahead and kill somebody. } All events are true. Letting the murderers tell their stories firsthand eliminates the plodding dreariness that plagues so many other true-crime documentariesand lets the series get right down to it. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ Believe me its premeditated all the way. Then, in 2008 James Robertson was moved into a shared close management cell with inmate Frank Hart. "Attention true crime fans! In the first episode of Netflixs latest true-crime docuseries I Am a Killer, producers sit down with James Robertson, an inmate in a Florida correctional facility who spent most of his life in prison, and is now on death row for murdering his cellmate. Also, he is taken care of financially. 3 following. }); James Robertson claims that he wants to die on death row. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. The peculiarities of his history may make us reflect about important issues. Then he had the idea to just kill his inmate, a child molester, figured he could do it because he didnt really want a child molester in his cell anyways. What I Am a Killer recognizes, and capitalizes on, is the fact that were morbidly fascinated by those whove chosen to take someone elses life. Robertson makes no secret of his distaste for the prison system, especially the austere form of solitary confinement known as close management. However, a series of turbulent events inside the prison have made that time increase dramatically, where James remains to this day. I am really glad he has his cousin. The I Am a Killer is streaming on Netflix now. You all feel bad for him? WebI Am a Killer is a series on Netflix and Crime+Investigation UK featuring interviews with death row inmates. The streaming service's latest offering, 'I Am A Killer: Released' follows along similar lines, but instead follows the story of one out of seven people who got their death sentences changed in Texas. However, the prisoner almost pleaded to be sentenced to death, and ultimately, in 2012, the authorities agreed and placed him on death row. Youve got no freedom, no liberty, no choice and no future. In prison for a CASE: James Robertson was in prison at the Charlotte Correctional Institution serving time for burglary and assault charges when he strangled his cellmate to Others would argue that hes there out of sheer desperation. With his attorney even asking Robertson, why would you even want the death penalty, whats your reasoning?, with him saying, im getting older, I look at the guy in the cell across from me, hes getting blind, hes 65, he gets pushed around more, he gets messed with more, and I dont want that kind of life, I dont want that for me once I get older, you know I used to be able to do the violence but now ill be the one having the violence done to me, and I just dont wanna put up for that. The Crown season 3 release date CONFIRMED. hitType: 'event', Furthermore, the Netflix episode stated that James sentence was increased as he tried to escape from jail and was responsible for several prison fights. The Great Hack: Who is Trumps campaign manager for 2020? Black fled to Oklahoma, but he was soon arrested on suspicion of murder. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { hitType: 'event', Frank Hart was the sacrifice he had to make to the prison gods in order to get put on Death Row. Write him a letter, or better yet put some money on his books. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), He had a horrible childhood, but it doesnt give him the right to take someones life. More Details Watch offline James changed his own name and that of other characters to have more freedom when writing, preserving the identity of those involved. Darrel talked to him about getting off of death row, so he can have more time with them, but he realizes that was selfish because James would rather be executed than spend another 40 or so years in prison. let gads_event; You can hear them, all night long. James Robertson, the Florida death row inmate whose story was featured in the Netflix documentary "I Am A Killer", remains alive. This Instagram aims to share the creation process and promote the book written by James Robertson from the In 2009, he was charged with Harts murder but the death penalty was not an option at the time as his attorney did not specifically request it. Frank Hart Murder: Where is James Robertson Now? He suggested his time spent in solitary confinement had gotten unbearable and had been part of the reason for killing Hart. hitType: 'event', WebJames D. ROBERTSON "Jimmy" Murderer Parricide - $2.2 million inheritance 2 November 25, 1997 1973 Earl and Terry Robertson, both 49 Method of murder: Hitting with a claw hammer / Stabbing with knife Rock Hill, South Carolina, It just wasnt in him. hitType: 'event', Since then, James has been on death row at the Florida State Prison in Raiford, Florida, and mentioned that being sentenced to death was one of his methods to get out of solitary confinement. Got a tip? How did he think it was gonna end up. Exactly the outcome he had wanted. eventAction: 'click_ads' Only it turns out that the murder wasnt without motive. I was very sorry for him and the way his life turn out. She said: In close management, we deal with a lot of frustration. Is Sheri in series 3? Best of 2022 Oscars Best Picture Winners Best Picture Winners Emmys STARmeter Awards San Diego Comic-Con New York Comic-Con Sundance Film Festival Toronto Int'l Film Festival Awards Central Festival Central All Events Sigler's changed motive does not change the terms of his sentencing or parole. James changed his own name and 'I Am A Killer: Released' is now streaming on Netflix. I also can't imagine what solitary confinement does to a person, and the poor guy has spent years alone. Robertson - AKA death row prisoner #322534 - has been behind bars for 37 years already, serving a sentence of over 100 years. It did not take long for authorities to suspect Frank of the crime, and when produced in court, the Florida native was sentenced to four years in prison in 1994. ga('ads.send', { WebJames Robertson is 54-years-old and is currently on death row in Florida. After the After the murder, Sigler repeatedly boasted to his friends, one of whom tipped off the police. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I wouldn't doubt the c.o. WebSentenced to life without parole for Jason Johnson's horrific murder, Gary Black says he has no regrets, while Jason's family finds purpose in tragedy. The relative/ cousin is a angel for stepping up and caring about his cousin. http://www.dc.state.fl.us/offenderSearch/detail.aspx?Page=Detail&DCNumber=322534&TypeSearch=AI. ga('ads.send', { But then when you find out his story he just never had love or anyone that cared about him. Four years of legal wrangling later, Robertson would receive the death sentence for his crime. This blog shows a preview of James' book, in which he chronicles his own childhood and adolescence before going to prison and never leaving. He is also the founder and publisher of a website named The Stream.. Robertson is charming, if a bit kooky, and engagingly loquacious. Netflix. Only it turns out that the murder wasnt No he was given 15 years after the inmate died by someone elses hand however he was charged by association because he had previously assaulted the inmate. I completely saw a difference in him too, I really think if someone had just shown him love he wouldve turned out okay. He was just 17 when he was found While he also mentions how life isnt meant to be fair and hes starting to realize and accept why his life is the way that it is. After the documentary aired in 2018, many people wrote him letters showingsympathy for his story. In December 2008 while incarcerated at the Charlotte Correctional Institution in Punda Gorda, Florida, Robertson murdered his cellmate Frank Hart and was sentenced to death row four years later. In 2009, he was charged with Harts murder but the death penalty was not an option at the time as his attorney did not specifically request it.