Bad Decisions, Deadly Results

Robert Pendley, 80, was a Second World War veteran who fought with the 87th Infantry Division in the Battle of the Bulge. His wife, Rosa Vivian Pendley, known as Vivian, was 75. They had spent their lives in Eufaula, Oklahoma; Robert ran a garage and Vivian worked at Sharp's Department Store for over 25 years. In the 1970s they built a retirement home about ten miles west of Eufaula, in Lena, which James calls a ghost town in name only. In 1976 Robert fell while adding a second storey and broke his back, leaving him paralysed from the waist down. Vivian retired to care for him, and he remained independent, keeping the three-acre yard like a park. In July 1999 they hired a man to clear brush that blocked their sunset. this part of the story is covered for now details of the account remain covered until revealed the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it After clearing brush, the name withheld heres disappeared for three weeks. details of the account remain covered until revealed They bought groceries at Mark's Country Store, about a mile east of Eufaula, and on Sunday 1 August 1999 arrived at the Pendley house and were invited in. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it The couple then walked into woods across the road, shot methamphetamine and argued over whether to rob the Pendleys or rob and kill them. this part of the story is covered for now They returned after 30 to 40 minutes. details of the account remain covered until revealed the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it this part of the story is covered for now details of the account remain covered until revealed the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it this part of the story is covered for now He had cut the telephone line with the scissors beforehand. The a covered names took about $70, costume jewellery, the keys to the Pendleys' Oldsmobile Delta 88 and two handguns, and drove away. They spent a day in Houston and two or three days in Mexico. On 5 August 1999 they crossed back into the United States at Laredo, Texas, and were stopped on the border bridge. They claimed to be lost, but a computer check showed the car was stolen and its occupants wanted for murder questioning. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it this part of the story is covered for now They waived extradition to Oklahoma. Dr Donald DiStefano, the medical examiner, testified that both Pendleys died from multiple blunt and sharp force injuries. details of the account remain covered until revealed At the preliminary hearing he described the methamphetamine and the plan. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it this part of the story is covered for now He was recaptured at 6 a.m. on 11 June 2000 in front of Eufaula City Hall. details of the account remain covered until revealed His lawyer, James Bowen, called the killing a monstrous act but said it did not make his client a monster. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it this part of the story is covered for now She apologised to the Pendley family, said they had intended to rob the couple but not kill them, and admitted holding Vivian down. details of the account remain covered until revealed the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it this part of the story is covered for now details of the account remain covered until revealed the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it That day he ate a final meal of Canadian bacon pizza, a pint of chicken livers, cottage cheese and one raw white onion. He apologised to the Pendley family and was dead two minutes later. this part of the story is covered for now Diana Pendley said the family would no longer have to worry about him getting out. details of the account remain covered until revealed