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Sammy David ROBERTS
Classification: Murderer
Characteristics:
Robberies
Number of victims: 3
Date of murder:
June 19,
1980
Date of birth: 1958
Victims profile: Bill Spain, Kenneth Krause and Louis Cakley(service
station attendants)
Method of murder:
Shooting
/ Stabbing
with knife
Location: Berkeley County, South Carolina, USA
Status:
Executed
by lethal injection in South Carolina on September 25,
1998
Sammy Roberts, 40, was condemned for his part in the
deaths of Bill Spain, Kenneth Krause and Louis Cakley.
They were all robbed then driven to wooded areas where
they were shot to death June 19, 1980. The bodies were found 3 days
later.
Roberts, Wesley Copeland and Danny Ray Coker were
arrested later that year.
Coker testified against the other two in exchange for
immunity, saying Copeland shot Spain and Krause, while Roberts
repeatedly stabbed Krause to make sure he was dead. Roberts later shot
Cakley in the back 4 times as he tried to run, Coker said. The robberies
netted about $1,500.
Copeland died of natural causes on death row in 1986.
Sources: Associated Press & Rick Halperin.
Sammy Roberts, 40, 98-09-25, South Carolina
A man who took part in the robbery and fatal shooting of 3 service
station attendants was executed by injection Friday.
Sammy Roberts, 40, was condemned for his part in the deaths of Bill
Spain, Kenneth Krause and Louis Cakley.
They were all robbed then driven to wooded areas where they were shot to
death June 19, 1980. The bodies were found 3 days later.
Roberts, Wesley Copeland and Danny Ray Coker were arrested later that
year.
Coker testified against the other two in exchange for immunity, saying
Copeland shot Spain and Krause, while Roberts repeatedly stabbed Krause
to make sure he was dead. Roberts later shot Cakley in the back 4 times
as he tried to run, Coker said. The robberies netted about $1,500.
Copeland died of natural causes on death row in 1986.
Stewart becomes the 3rd condemned inmate to be put to death this year in
South Carolina, and the 16th overall in the state since executions were
resumed there in 1985.
