*** CAUTION: This  is intended to provide a brief summary of a very large case. In light of the complexity of this case, it is likely that some facts may be missing. It is written in the chronological order of the investigation, and not necessarily in the order that events occurred.  It contains graphic details of murders and profane language which may be deemed offensive by some. ***

Lieutenant Ken Hilte
Investigations Division
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office

On March 28, 1995, Robert Browne was arrested by El Paso County (Colorado) detectives for the 1st Degree Murder of 13 year old Heather Dawn Church.

Heather had been reported missing from her Colorado Springs Black Forest area home three and one-half years earlier on September 17, 1991.  Investigation revealed that Heather had been babysitting one of her siblings, a five year old brother, but was not at home when her mother and other brothers returned home around 10:15 p.m., that night.  Her five year old brother was asleep and safe in his bedroom.

A detailed crime scene search was conducted of the Church home.  Search and Rescue teams coupled with search dogs scoured the area.  Fingerprints were recovered and forwarded to both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Both local and national media took part in the “Where’s Heather?” missing persons campaign as the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation combined efforts to solve the case.

On September 16, 1993, a human skull was found by a hiker off of Rampart Range Road, a mountainous area outside of Colorado Springs.  A forensic dental comparison concluded the remains were that of Heather Dawn Church.

In the years that followed, detectives continued to pursue hundreds of leads which came in from all parts of the country.  In addition to being featured in national publications and television shows, the FBI’s Behavioral Sciences Unit produced a suspect profile.

In 1995, Lou Smit was assigned as the Captain of Detectives for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.  In reviewing the case, he noted the recovery of fingerprints from the crime scene.  Captain Smit recognized that although the prints had been forwarded to both the FBI and CBI, he was aware that there were in fact, 92 separate Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) throughout the country.  Knowing that each of those systems wasn’t necessarily integrated with the FBI or CBI systems, Captain Smit ordered the fingerprint mailed to each of the 92 AFIS systems in addition to fingerprint repositories for each individual state in the union.

On March 24, 1995, detectives received notification that fingerprints recovered from inside the crime scene matched that of Robert C. Browne, a 42 year old felon who had previously been arrested for burglary and motor vehicle theft in Louisiana.  Browne served 10 months in Louisiana jails and prisons related to that charge.

In 1987, Browne’s parole from Louisiana had been transferred to Colorado. Browne resided a mere half mile from Heather’s home.

On March 28, 1995, detectives arrested Browne for the First Degree Murder of Heather Dawn Church.  Although Browne never admitted killing Heather to detectives, he pled “guilty” and received a life sentence to the Colorado State Department of Corrections.

On March 30, 2000, Browne sent an unsolicited letter to the 4th Judicial District Attorneys Office in Colorado Springs.  The letter, addressed “To Whom It May Concern,” was written in cryptic and poetic prose and intimated that he had killed 48 people throughout the United States, including nine in Colorado.  Aside from indicating how many victims there were in each state, the letter provided very few details other than:

… seven sacred virgins, entombed side by side, those less worthy, are scattered wide.”  The letter taunted investigators claiming “The score is, you one, the other team 48.

The “one” obviously being a reference to the Heather Dawn Church case. Browne taunted local investigators by including:

…if you were to drive to the end zone in a white Trans Am, the score could be nine to forty-eight.  That would complete your home court sphere.

Browne closed the letter by demanding that he not be contacted.

El Paso County detectives and investigators from the District Attorneys Office worked together to attempt to establish the validity of Browne’s claims.  Checks of missing persons files failed to identify cases which could reasonably be interpreted as matching his claim of “…seven sacred virgins.”  Attempts to gain more information by writing and visiting Browne proved to be unsuccessful as a result of his lack of cooperation.  This led detectives to doubt his veracity and question his motives.

In May 2002, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division volunteer Charlie Hess wrote to Browne in an attempt to reestablish communications.  Mr. Hess, a former FBI and CIA officer, was uniquely qualified given his past experience.  Letters were exchanged between the two over the next two years. Hess’ patient and nonjudgmental attitude was key to eliciting numerous admissions from Browne regarding the homicides he claimed to have committed.

Through these writings, Hess eventually learned of Browne’s motivation.  Browne had concerns over some medical conditions from which he was suffering and the conditions of his incarceration.  Browne had also suggested the possibility of working with an author and selling his story.  Browne seemed aware of “Son of Sam” laws which would prevent him from profiting from his crimes and suggested that the subject of this book (him) would remain anonymous.

On September 6, 2002, Browne wrote to Hess and spoke of a white Pontiac “Grand Am” (as opposed to the Trans Am mentioned previously) being involved in a Colorado Springs case in either 1987 or 1988.

Browne had previously written in enigmatic terms regarding a homicide he claimed he committed in the Colorado Springs area somewhere between 1987 and 1989.  The sole clues he provided were that it involved the missing wife of a Fort Carson, CO, soldier and their white Pontiac Grand Am.  Again, research of existing records failed to produce corroborating reports.

Up until this point, Browne had always been careful that the information he provided would not necessarily implicate him or provide fodder for prosecution. As a result, Hess pointed out that detectives doubted his ability to clear any old cases.

In response, on March 8, 2003, Browne offered information on a woman whom he intimated that he had killed in Flatonia, Texas, in 1984 or 1985.  Browne suggested that a small town such as Flatonia would more likely remember the incident as opposed to a larger metropolitan area.  He wrote:

“A young woman was killed and her body was found near this town. The last I heard was that her husband was being charged with her murder.”

Detectives made contact with the Fayette County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers and learned of the unsolved homicide of Melody Bush.  Bush, a 22 year old female, was found dead along a highway on March 30, 1984.  Her decomposed body showed no obvious signs of trauma, but the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled it a homicide by “acute acetone poisoning.”

Investigation by the Texas Rangers and Fayette County Sheriff’s Office revealed that she had been drinking at a nightclub with her husband when they had become involved in an argument with one another and she left the club.  Browne had provided specifics regarding her death which El Paso County detectives then attempted to compare and corroborate with existing police and coroner’s reports. Detectives were conscientious of the possibility that Browne may have simply been repeating information or details which may have been released through the media.

On April 30, 2003, Browne wrote another letter in which he offered that “…a body (in parts) was discovered off of US Hwy 59 in the S.W. Houston area.”  He wrote that this might have occurred around the same time, but previous to the time, that Melody Bush was killed.

On May 20, 2003, Browne wrote a letter in which he invited Hess on a hypothetical “trip.”  The letter served as a windfall of sorts for the amount of detail it provided.  Browne described a journey through several states and described murders for which he insinuated he was responsible.  The letter made the following revelations:

• “We started out in Colorado Springs …,” (regarding the woman who would become known as the “Grand Am” lady).
• “From there we went to Flatonia …,” (a reference regarding Melody Bush).
• “From there we went to Houston …,” (a reference regarding the dismembered body).
• “Let’s continue east on Interstate 10.  New Orleans was very fertile grounds.  Lets (sic) go back to 1975 or 79 (approximately).  Left inside a room inside a Holiday Inn; about five minutes from the French Quarter. This lady claimed to be from South Phily (Philadelphia).”
• “Let’s continue east along Interstate 10.  We are now in Mississippi, but just barely.  We are very near the Alabama border.  There is a swampy area just north of the Interstate.  There, two bodies were dumped.  In parts (for ease of transport). Both of these were male.  I made a point of stating that they were male so you couldn’t dismiss the incident.  It was around 1980 then.”
• “Lets (sic) move north now.  How about Arkansas. (sic)  This is just across the Mississippi River from Memphis.  There is a marshy area a little south-west of there.  That is where this lady was laid to rest.  Also 1980.”
• “Now let’s go west to Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Just south-east of there, along the south side of the Arkansas River is a flood plain.  Lots of water grasses.  There is also a male in the muck.  This was in 1985.”
•  “Let’s go north-west.  Way north-west.  Washington State is our next stop.

On the north side of the east-west Interstate (I believe it was Interstate 96) is a scenic overlook.  This is an extreme drop-off over huge boulders. There is a mountain range to the north.  The lady that was droped (sic) over the precipice would probably never be found due to the terrain unless there was an intentional search of the area.  This was 1986.”

• “Let’s go south now. We are in California now.  We are on the Pacific Coast Highway about 200 miles north of San Francisco (approximate distance). There is an exit to a sandy beach where there are areas with lots of driftwood among boulders to the north side.  Among the boulders and driftwood are two bodies.  One male and one female.  This was 1986.”
• “Let’s go east now.  We are in north-west New Mexico.  I’m on an east- west highway.  The number I don’t remember.  However, the north of another scenic over-look is a tremendous rock face, gray in color.  It can’t be missed.  Once again there is a body over the precipice.  This one is male.  This was 1993.”

Detectives began trying to identify the jurisdictions in which these offenses might have been committed.

Calls went to the New Orleans Police Department, the Jackson County (Mississippi) Sheriff’s Office, the Arkansas State Police, the West Memphis (Arkansas) Police Department,     Tulsa (Oklahoma Police Department, the Grant County (Washington) Sheriff’s Office, the Washington State Attorney Generals Office, the Mendicino County (California) Sheriff’s Office, the Humboldt County (California) Sheriff’s, the California State Police, and the New Mexico State Police, in an effort to find victims which might match the victims Browne claimed to have killed.

Mr. Charlie Hess had been corresponding with Inmate Robert Browne for approximately two and one half years, when in the fall of 2004, Browne finally agreed to personally meet with Hess.  Arrangements were made with the Inspector Generals Office of the Colorado Department of Corrections to facilitate the meeting.

On September 9, 2004, Hess visited Inmate Browne in prison for the first time. During their three hour interview, Browne told him that there were two distinct oddities about the murder in Flatonia (Melody Bush’s death), but that he feared the local coroner might have missed the nuances.

On October 11, 2004, Browne penned a letter to Hess in which he attached a separate sheet of paper on which he printed:

Flatonia

Ether / Ice Pick

Detectives presumed these were the “nuances” to which Browne had previously referred.  Detectives were aware that the autopsy conducted on Ms. Bush revealed she died of “acute acetone poisoning,” but did not mention any stab or puncture wounds.  Detectives allowed for the possibility that Browne could have mistaken acetone for ether but were skeptical that the Travis County (Texas) Medical Examiner’s Office would not have noticed evidence of wounds caused by an ice pick.

Throughout Mr. Hess’ communications with Inmate Browne, he has repeatedly complained about his physical ailments and the lack of proper health care at DOC.  In the past, he has asked for books and addresses, all of which we have arranged for him to receive.  He has inquired about hiring an author to write his story. We initiated some action on this also.

At this point, however, detectives were only certain that Browne was responsible for the 1991 death of Heather Dawn Church in Colorado, and that he was claiming responsibility for the 1984 murder of Melody Bush in Flatonia, TX.  The details he provided regarding Bush’s death were nebulous and detectives continued to be skeptical of his claims and motivation.

Browne insisted upon maintaining control of the process, stating “I only have one thing to trade.  I’ll decide which ones I’ll give you and in which order.”

Mr. Hess, however, remained undaunted and worked with detectives from both the EPSO and other jurisdictions to continue to find victims whom Browne claimed.

The passage of time, however, made this task difficult.  In many cases, the agencies no longer had records from the time period in question.  Likewise, it was likely that some of Browne’s victims were disposed of in such a manner that their bodies were never recovered.

Some agencies, however, were able to corroborate the deaths.  On 11/17/04, detectives from the Sugarland Police Department, a suburb of Houston, Texas, notified El Paso County Detectives that they did, in fact, have a body matching the description that Browne had provided.  They described finding the dismembered body of 17 year old Nidia Mendoza along US Hwy 59 southwest of the Houston city limits. She had been reported “missing” on 2/2/84.  Nidea was of Panamanian descent and Browne said the girl he killed was “Guamanian.”

On 2/23/05, Browne met with Hess and provided information on three homicides he had committed in the Coushatta, Red River Parish area of LA.  He told Hess that he had stabbed a woman to death in an apartment complex owned by his brother in Coushatta, LA.  This woman was identified as Wanda Faye Hudson, DOB: 8/26/62, a white female.

Upon sharing this information with the Louisiana State Police (LSP), they confirmed that Hudson had been killed at the Riverside Apartments in Coushatta, LA, on 5/28/83.  EPSO detectives learned that Browne had provided case specifics which had been held back by the police at the time of the murder. Furthermore, they learned that Browne’s name had surfaced during the initial investigation.

During the 2/23/05 interview, Browne also provided information on the murder of Fay Self, also of Coushatta, LA.  He explained that she lived in a neighboring apartment building, also owned by his brother, and that he had met her in a bar called Alice’s Wagon Wheel.  He said he entered her unlocked apartment and subdued her while she was sleeping by placing “chloroform” over her face.  He explained that it was actually a commercial product designed to be a “red ant killer” which contained chloroform.  He surmised that he must have used too much and killed her with the chloroform.  He claimed that he placed her in the trunk of his car and dropped her from a nearby bridge into the Red River.

This claim was also corroborated by the LSP who confirmed that Fay Self, DOB:

10/18/56, had been reported missing 3/30/83, after having last been seen at the Wagon Wheel Bar in Armistead, LA.  Although her body was never recovered, she was “declared dead” in 1991.

During that interview, Browne also described killing a teenage girl he only knew as “Fuzzy.”  He said that he had met her at “Uncle Albert’s,” a fast food chicken stand in Coushatta, LA.  He explained that she had been there with some other teens, and she needed a “ride” and a “place to stay.”       He admits to taking her to his home, having sex with her, and then strangling her with leather shoelaces. He said that he loaded her body into the trunk of his car and dumped her off a bridge near Montgomery, LA, (between Clarence and Montgomery).

The LSP was able to corroborate this claim through existing records which showed 15 year old Katherine Jean Hayes,’ (DOB: 10/1/64) skeletal remains were found by a Montgomery hunter, under a US Hwy 71 bridge, near St. Maurice, LA,  on 10/16/80.  Forensic anthropologists had confirmed her identity. Hayes was also known to go by the nickname “Fuzzy,” and had been reported missing earlier that year.  Leather shoelaces were recovered with the skeletal remains. Information available at the time of her disappearance claimed that she often frequented “Uncle Albert’s” chicken stand.

Hess’ 2/23/05 interview with Browne proved to be a watershed event in the investigation. Once those deaths had been corroborated, EPSO detectives were firmly convinced of Browne’s credibility.  Detective Jeff Nohr was assigned to the case full time and the focus was shifted to developing a strategy which would motivate and / or assist Browne in providing information which would corroborate the remainder of 48 deaths for which he claimed responsibility.                                    

A plan was developed to introduce Detective Nohr into the interviews with Browne.

Through the cooperation of the Colorado Department of Corrections, arrangements were made to provide Browne with a transfer to another facility. Detectives also made arrangements with a local doctor to provide Browne with a medical examination.

During a March 14, 2005, interview with Hess, Browne told him that he committed his first murder when he was 17 years old (1970 or 1971).  He explained that he was in the U.S. Army and stationed in Yongsan, South Korea. He said that he had got in a fight with another soldier who had become “jealous of a whore” and that he had “broke his neck.”  Browne stated it occurred off-base and that he didn’t know the victim.  This information was provided to U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division (CID) personnel in Korea, but they have yet to corroborate that death.

EPSO detectives also began reexamining Browne’s claims regarding the “Grand Am Lady,” i.e., the woman he killed in Colorado Springs.  Utilizing a map of the city and making references to known landmarks, Browne had attempted to describe the location of the apartment in which he killed her.  Detectives found the location, took photographs, and showed those photographs to Browne. Browne confirmed the location as being where he killed the “Grand Am Lady.”

He had previously told detectives that her body had been placed in a dumpster.

During the March 14, 2005, interview, Browne told Hess that he had stolen a 19” Sony television from the Grand Am Lady’s apartment.  While he denied taking souvenirs or keeping a journal, he did admit to taking things “of value” from his victims.  He said that he often sold those items or gave them away.  He told detectives that the television in question was left with his wife at the time.

On March 22, 2005, Detective Nohr contacted Browne’s ex-wife and recovered a 19” Sony television.  As of this time, it cannot yet be definitively tied to Sperry’s apartment.

Detectives continued to search for existing police reports which might match his claims.  Browne had previously mentioned that the Grand Am Lady’s husband, a Fort Carson soldier, had found the missing Pontiac Grand Am himself.  Utilizing this information, detectives contacted the Colorado Bureau of Investigations (CBI) and obtained a list of 172 Pontiacs reported stolen and recovered from the Pikes Peak area during 1987 and 1988.

On April 14, 2005, after painstaking research of the 172 stolen Pontiacs, Detectives Nohr and Rick Frady identified the registered owner as Joe Sperry, who currently resided in West Palm Beach, FL.  Detectives contacted Sperry who confirmed he lived in Colorado Springs during the time in question, at the address in which Browne claimed to have killed the “Grand Am Lady,” and that he had, in fact, reported his wife, 15 year old Rocio Sperry, (DOB: 3/29/72) as a Missing Person to the Colorado Springs Police Department on November 15, 1987.  Joe Sperry confirmed that his television was missing from his apartment also.  He provided EPSO detectives with a copy of the CSPD report which had previously been unable to be found.  According to the report, Rocio Sperry was last seen November 10, 1987.   Rocio Sperry has never been found.

During the course of these many interviews, detectives always tried to remain nonjudgmental while speaking with Browne.  As such, he was never pressed to provide a motive for these killings.  He did offer, however, that these crimes were never “planned,” but simply crimes of “opportunity.”  He said:

The situation presented itself …, and it was done …, spontaneous.

He spoke of enjoying the peacefulness of the night time and going “rambling.”  In speaking of Fay Self’s murder, he states the door to her home was open, and said that had it been closed, he would have simply passed on.  This, of course, is in stark contrast to the efforts he went to in gaining entrance to Wanda Faye Hudson’s home.  He did however, frequently speak of his negative feelings towards women.  He said:

(It would be triggered by) my disgust … at the lack of morality ….  Women try to present themselves to be one thing, and then always prove to be something else.

Low …, unfaithful …, screw around on their husbands …, cheats…, users…, not of the highest moral character.

 

In describing one of his victims, he called her a:

Slutty, low life woman who wants to fuck.

On April 27, 2005, Detective Nohr and Charlie Hess visited Browne in prison once again.  During this visit, he told them of two other murders. Browne explained that in the “late 70’s,” but before he killed the woman in the Holiday Inn in New Orleans (by his previous accounts, 1975 or 1979), he had gone to a bar in Morgan City, LA, where he met a woman.  He described her as a married, white, female, in her 30’s, with short dark hair and dark eyes.  He added that she had a strong Cajun accent, claimed to be a “local,” and was wearing a skirt, blouse and wedding ring.  Browne stated that they left the bar together and that he took her to a large bridge (large enough to allow ships to pass underneath) and strangled her after sex.  He claims he threw her off the bridge.  This information has been provided to the LSP but they have yet to corroborate that death.

During the April 27, 2005, interview, Browne told Nohr and Hess of yet another Colorado murder. He estimated that it occurred sometime between 1990 and 1994, based upon life events that he was referencing at the time.  Other interviews potentially narrow this window of time to 1991 or 1992.

Browne said that he was at “Cowboys” night club when he took note of a woman “making her rounds.” As he left the club later that evening, he saw the same woman hitchhiking along Academy Blvd., north of the club.  He stopped and offered her a ride in his red Ford Ranger pick-up truck, and they decided to go to another night club located at Academy Blvd. and North Carefree Circle. Detectives presumed this to be either “Steamers” or “Rodeo’s” night club, depending upon the year this occurred.

From there, they went to his home on Eastonville Rd., where he strangled her after sex.  He claimed he rolled her body in plastic and kept her in a spare bedroom for a few days before he disposed of it off of Gold Camp Road.  He described the dump site as being accessed from the town of Cripple Creek, being “high up,” and noticing light shining off of a nearby body of water.

Browne described the woman as being white, tall (approximately 5’7” – 5’8”), thin, and blond.  He described her as being dressed in western clothes, including boots. In addition to researching their own records, detectives contacted the Teller County (Colorado) Sheriff’s Office regarding any dead bodies found in their jurisdiction since the applicable time.  Detectives also scoured local missing persons reports, identifying three persons who potentially could match the description of the person Browne described.  Two of those persons have been located as being alive and well.  The third person is still being researched.

On May 5, 2005, Browne told of three other murders. Browne said that in 1983, (referencing that it was approximately the same time he killed Hudson), he had gone to the “Hill Top Bar” located in or near Natchitoches, LA.  Browne described it as being a “western” bar, north of Campti, LA, and he added that he thought it “burned down” shortly after he was there.

While at the bar, he met a woman he described as being white, in her 20’s to 30’s, who had only been married a few weeks.  She had told him that her husband worked at the International Paper Company, and that they lived in nearby Mansfield, LA.  Browne says they left the bar together, leaving her pick up truck there, and went to the only hotel in town.  He stated he killed her after sex, but did not recall exactly how he killed her.

He stated he took her body to Red Oak Rd., along the Red River, and dumped her over the embankment, into the water.

This information was provided to the LSP who have yet to corroborate this death.

During this interview, Browne told of another incident in which two other persons were murdered.  He thought this might have occurred in either Colorado or Utah. Browne said that in approximately 1980, at a westbound rest stop along Interstate 70, west of Denver, CO, he shot and killed a young couple.  He said that he shot them both in the chest, but did not recall the caliber of weapon he used, or the number of rounds he shot. He was also unable to describe the car they were driving.  He remembered disposing of their bodies at that scene by simply throwing them over the embankment.  He recalled taking money from the male victim and leaving their car at the scene.

This information was provided to CBI in order to search for reports of dead bodies, and / or abandoned vehicles along I-70, west of Jefferson County, CO.

On June 2, 2005, EPSO detectives met with members of the King County (Washington) Sheriff’s Office regarding the tactics they used in their investigation of Gary Ridgway, AKA: The Green River Killer, a serial killer who has pled guilty to murder of 48 women.  They recommended the use of Ms. Mary Ellen O’Toole, a Supervisory Special Agent assigned to the FBI’s Behavioral Sciences Unit (BSU) for the purpose of assisting in developing an interview strategy for Browne.

On June 7, 2005, detectives contacted O’Toole and discussed which services the FBI might be able to offer to assist in the investigation of Browne’s claims. Detectives explained that they had been nonconfrontational with Browne since, like many serial killers, he had been very insistent upon maintaining “control” of the process.  Detectives noted that unlike the Ridgway case, whose plea bargain to avoid the death penalty was contingent upon his cooperation, detectives had very little to bargain with when dealing with Browne.  Furthermore, the low key approach had resulted in the admissions described above.

On June 13, 2005, the EPSO made a formal request for assistance to the FBI. On July 12, 2005, detectives received notification from the Tulsa PD that they had a potential match for victim Browne claimed to have murdered in their jurisdiction. They stated that on March 12, 1992, they had discovered the body of a white male homosexual in Mohawk Park in Tulsa.  They stated that he had been shot three times in the head with a .22 caliber weapon.  They added that the victim’s vehicle was later found in Lake Claremore outside of Tulsa.  Although there had been a suspect in the case, the murder remains unsolved at this point. Tulsa authorities agreed to continue to research the case for us.

On July 19, 2005, the Arkansas State Police contacted detectives stating that they believed they had a homicide victim who might match the description of the young woman Browne claimed to have killed in their jurisdiction.  They stated the victim’s name was Lisa Lowe, that she was 20-21 years old, and had been reported missing since 12/7/91.  They described her as a light skinned, black female, approximately 5’00” – 5’01” tall, and that she was wearing a “tube dress.” Detectives noted the 11 year time difference in the homicide that Browne admitted to (1980; see page 4 of this summary) and the 1991 discovery of this victim.  Arkansas authorities agreed to continue to research information for us.

On August 1, 2005, the Arkansas State Police notified us that Lisa Lowe (11/14/69) was reported missing 11/3/91.  She lived in Forrest City, AR, and had left her home clad in a black one-piece “sweater dress,” and a lavender colored, hooded jacket, on her way to a night club in West Memphis, AR.  Her body was discovered 11/26/91, in a river, 18 miles south of Forrest City, along Interstate 40.

On August 2, 2005, Tulsa PD authorities notified EPSO detectives that believed they had identified the victim that Browne claimed to have killed in their jurisdiction.  They identified the victim as Timothy Warren, (12/16/52), a homosexual male known to aggressively pursue partners.  His body was discovered in Mohawk Park on the morning of 3/12/92.  He had been shot in the head three times with a .22 caliber firearm.  He was described as a white male, 5’8” tall, weighing 190 lbs.  Tulsa authorities reported that it appeared that he had been shot and killed at Mohawk Park and that his body was then drug into a nearby creek.  The victim’s vehicle, a while 1988 Olds 98, was later found submerged in Claremore Lake.  Tulsa authorities reported that a number of items were recovered from the Mohawk Park scene which might lend themselves to DNA testing.

On August 17 and 18, 2005, EPSO detectives met with Special Agent David Resch and Investigator Kirk Mellecker, members of the FBI’s Behavioral Sciences Unit to discuss this case.

On September 10, 2005, EPSO detectives coordinated with members of the El Paso County Search & Rescue Team and a detective from the Teller County (Colorado) Sheriff’s Office and searched an area of Teller County Road 81 (Gold Camp Road), approximately six miles off of Colorado State Highway 67, for signs of human remains.  Detectives hoped to recover evidence corroborating

Browne’s claim of disposing of a woman he had picked up from the “Cowboys” nightclub, and subsequently murdering, between 1990 and 1994.  Detectives did recover approximately 15 pieces of black rubber and leather which they suspected to be portions of cowboy boots.  Analysis of those items is still pending.

From September 19 to September 21, 2005, Detective Nohr traveled to Tulsa, OK, where he met with Tulsa PD detectives reference the homicide of Timothy Warren.

On September 28, 2005, Detective Nohr and Mr. Hess traveled to Jackson, WY, where they met with Jan Osgood, a former girlfriend of Browne’s.  She provided them with a woman’s ring which matched the description of a ring Browne claimed he took from Rocio Sperry and subsequently gave to Osgood.  Osgood was unable to recall from whom she had received that ring.

On October 31, 2005, Detective Nohr and Charlie Hess visited Browne in prison on the occasion of his birthday and presented him with a birthday card.  He stated that he wished to talk with them again in about six weeks, i.e., after he completed some computer training in which he was currently enrolled.

From November 14 to November 19, 2005, Detective Nohr traveled to Sugar Land, TX, and Flatonia, TX, where he met with detectives and members of the prosecutors office reference the Mendoza and Bush homicides.

On November 30, 2005, Detective Nohr and Mr. Hess visited Browne in prison. At that time, Browne provided a hand drawn map of the area in which the “Dames Night Club” was located.  Dames is where he met Nidia Mendoza.  The map included the location of the hotel where he killed her and the ditch where he subsequently left her body.  Detective Nohr took note that the hand drawn map that Browne drew from memory matched the aerial photographs of the same area he had received from the Texas authorities earlier in the month.

From December 5 to December 10, 2005, Detective Nohr traveled to Shreveport, LA, where he met with members of the Louisiana State Police and a member Coushatta Parish Prosecutors Office.  While there, Detective Nohr visited the Wanda Faye Hudson and Fay Self crime scenes.  During this trip, Detective Nohr also traveled to Brinkley, AR, where he met with detectives from the Arkansas State Police (ASP).  The ASP had previously only known where Lisa Lowe’s body was discovered and not where she had been killed and put into the St. Francis River.  Detective Nohr had learned this information from Browne and was able to pass that on to the ASP.

On January 9, 2006, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office mailed letters to all the involved law enforcement agencies inviting them to a two-day meeting in Dallas, TX.  The purpose of the meeting was to coordinate investigative and prosecutorial efforts in an effort to craft the most efficient and effective

prosecution possible.  The meeting was scheduled for February 13 and 14, 2006, and agencies were encouraged to send their investigators and prosecutors.

Each agency was asked to prepare a brief presentation of their cases, discuss the evidence available, and offer prosecutorial options.

On February 11, 2006, El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa, Undersheriff Teri Goodall, Commander Brad Shannon, Lieutenant Ken Hilte, Detective Nohr, Mr. Hess, FBI Special Agent Joe Hunt (Colorado Springs), and Assistant District Attorney (4th Judicial District, Colorado) Amy Mullaney traveled to Dallas, TX, to meet with members of the other agencies.  On February 13 and 14, 2006, members of the EPSO met with representatives of the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit, the Washington State Attorney Generals Office, the Sugar Land (TX) PD, the Arkansas State Police, the Louisiana State Police, the Tulsa (OK) PD, the Colorado State Department of Corrections, and the Red River Parish (39th Judicial District, LA) District Attorney’s Office. Agencies were briefed on the cases in their jurisdiction and presented with case books on the work done by the EPSO on their behalf.  Detectives discussed the various cases and made suggestions on how to best develop the cases from this point forward.  The FBI BAU offered insight into Robert Browne and how to best approach him during interviews.

Detectives and representatives from the various jurisdictions returned to their agencies, reviewed existing evidence and conferred with their respective prosecutor’s offices.

On June 12, 2006, Texas Ranger Otto Hanak advised Detective Nohr he had located and interviewed Ms. Florine J. Troquille regarding Melody Bush’s death in Flatoia, TX, in 1984.  Ranger Hanak explained that Troquille was the manager and “bartender” of the Stag Club where Browne claimed to have first seen Melody Bush.  Ms. Troquille remembered Ms. Bush had constant domestic problems with her boyfriend / husband at the time.  She specifically remembered the night when Ms. Bush came in to the club prior to her disappearance.  Ms. Troquille recalled Ms. Bush telling her that she and her boyfriend / husband were staying in the Antler Inn but had become involved in an argument.  She recounted Ms. Bush was very intoxicated and “spaced out” and was not wearing shoes.  Since she had not ordered any drinks while in the club, Ms. Troquille concluded Ms. Bush must have had alcohol in the room in which she was staying.  Ms. Troquille remembered that Ms. Bush was wearing dark pants and a sweater with hearts on it.  Ms. Troquille recalled that Ms. Bush left the club by herself.

Ms. Troquille did remember a silk flower salesman who used to stop by once or twice per month. She remembered that he would pass out silk flowers to the women in the club.  She specifically remembered him giving her eight year old daughter daisies on one occasion.  Ms. Troquille said that he had been coming into the club regularly over a six month period prior to Ms. Bush’s death.  She did not specifically remember seeing him there on the night in question.  Ms. Troquille denied ever seeing the flower salesman and Ms. Bush together.  She specifically denied ever going anywhere with the flower salesman herself.

Detectives noted on September 9, 2004, Browne had told Mr. Hess that at the time of the murder in Flatonia, he was employed as a truck driver and delivered flowers.  He said one of his routes regularly took him through Flatonia, Texas.

On June 21, 2006, Judge Gilbert Martinez, Chief Judge of the 4th Judicial District District Court for the State of Colorado, signed an arrest warrant charging Robert Browne with the First Degree Murder of Rocio Sperry, on or about November 10, 1987, while in Colorado Springs, County of El Paso, State of Colorado.

On June 25, 2006, detectives from the Tulsa Police Department traveled to Colorado to interview Browne.  Tulsa detectives discovered inconsistencies which led them to suspect that Browne’s claims did not match the facts surrounding Timothy Warren’s death.  They continue to research existing Tulsa area cases for a case consistent with the details provided by Browne.

On June 26, 2006, EPSO detectives mailed a letter to the various agencies advising that EPSO would be arresting Browne during the week of July 10 – July 14, 2006, for the murder of Rocio Sperry.  Since the arrest affidavit mentioned the murders Browne claimed in other jurisdictions, those agencies were advised to prepare for inquiries.

On July 14, 2006, Detective Nohr and Investigator Hess traveled to the Territorial Prison in Canon City, CO, to visit Browne. During this visit, Browne was shown the Writ of Habeas Corpus ordering that he be brought before the court in El Paso County to answer to the charge of 1st Degree Murder regarding Rocio Sperry.

On July 24, 2006, Browne was transferred from the Department of Corrections to the El Paso County Jail. At that time, he was served with the arrest warrant charging him with the First Degree Murder of Rocio Sperry.

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