INMATE 051550 TOWERY ROBERT, C

 

Date of Birth July 20, 1964
Executed March 8, 2012
Defendant: Caucasian

Last Meal Request

 

On September 4, 1991, Towery and Randy Barker went to the home of Mark Jones to rob him. Jones knew Towery, and let Towery and Barker into the home. Towery pulled a pistol on Jones, and Barker handcuffed him. Towery took valuables from the house and loaded them into Jones' vehicle. Barker took Jones to the bedroom. Towery told Jones that he was going to give him injections with something that would make him sleep. Towery then injected Jones with battery acid. Jones was not struggling because he trusted Towery. Towery then sought to strangle Jones to death. When the first try failed, he tried again and succeeded. Towery and Barker then left in Jones' car, unloaded Jones' property at their home, and left the car in a nearby parking lot. On September 5, 1991, Jones' body was discovered. On September 12, 1993, Jones' car was recovered. As a result of a tip given to the silent witness program, Towery and Barker were later arrested. Some of Jones' property was recovered from Towery's and Barker's homes.

PROCEEDINGS
Presiding Judge:Hon. Cheryl K. Hendrix
Prosecutor:John Ditsworth
Defense Counsel:James Hazel, Jr.
Start of Trial:August 3, 1992
Verdict:August 14, 1992
Sentencing:November 20, 1992

Aggravating Circumstances
Prior convictions punishable by life imprisonment
Prior convictions for crimes of violence
Pecuniary gain
Especially heinous, cruel or depraved

PUBLISHED OPINIONS
State v. Towery, 186 Ariz. 168, 920 P.2d 290 (1996).
State v. Towery, et. al., 204 Ariz. 386, 64 P.3d 828 (2003).