Haberlein
Two men were sentenced to “hard 50” prison terms Thursday for the savage beating death of Robin Bell as she closed the Bonner Springs Dollar General store late on the night of Nov. 10, 2005. Her body was discovered early the following morning.
Bell, 44, was the stepmother of Ashlie Marx-Bell of Emporia and Erin Bell Graybeal of Madison. Their father, Don Bell, and Robin Bell were living in Tonganoxie when the murder took place.
Robert Haberlein, then 17, and John Backus, then 20, were sentenced on Thursday in Wyandotte County District Court. They will not be eligible for parole for 50 years, according to information published in the Kansas City Star on Friday.
Haberlein initially was charged in juvenile court. Because of his prior violent juvenile record, however, he was tried as an adult.
Backus also was sentenced Thursday to an additional 645 months and Haberlein to an additional 312 months for other crimes they committed during the robbery and murder.
Robin Bell had handed over money to the pair and a juvenile accomplice, Amber Russell of Lenexa, then 17, when they came into the Dollar General store Bell managed as she was closing for the night. Bell tried to escape and was brought back into the store.
Members of the Bell family did not learn of the details of her death until they spoke with personnel from the district attorney’s office, to prepare them for what they would hear in court, where testimony revealed even more information.
Haberlein was angry because Robin Bell already had done a nightly deposit drop and only a few $5 and $1 bills remaining in the store. He pulled a gun, made her put her hands behind her back, and forced Bell to go to the back of the store, where she was shot, then brutalized with a footstool and a sharp metal tripod.
The first bullet from the .22-caliber gun skimmed the top of her head; the second shot hit the side of her mouth and went into her larynx before lodging in her esophagus, Erin Bell said during an earlier interview.
Backus
One of the men jammed the footstool into Robin Bell’s eye; the rubber pad from the bottom of the stool was discovered later, during the autopsy.
The men then shoved the sharp tripod through the side of Robin Bell’s head and into her brain. That blow killed her, according to the autopsy.
After the bloody attack, the men tidied up the area with cleaning supplies from the storeroom, then got into their truck, along with Amber Russell, and went to McDonald’s drive-through to pick up food to eat, Erin Bell said, recounting the testimony.
They then changed clothes, drove to the Argentine Bridge, and threw the gun, their clothes, and the money into the river.
The case is pending against Russell, who also is charged with first-degree murder among other charges, the Star reported. Authorities agreed to charge her as a juvenile if she testified truthfully in the cases against Haberlein and Backus.
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Posted by madpoet (anonymous) on March 31, 2009 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What a brutal crime! I'm glad they are locking these men up for the next 50 years! My prayers go out to the family and friends of the victim. And I feel sad for the family of those men. I can't imagine how I would cope if my child did something so awful. What a sad, sad event for all involved, really.
Posted by josiesbar (anonymous) on March 31, 2009 at 1:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't give em hard time, give em soft lead!
Posted by emporian (anonymous) on March 31, 2009 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is why we need the death penalty. That was done in cold blood. They got the money then tortured her. I think they outta get a short drop and a sudden stop.
Posted by Blackshirt (anonymous) on March 31, 2009 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hard 50 v. Death penalty. If they living out their time in prison there will always be a chance that they can escape and cause more grief to another innocent person. If they are executed, they aren't going anywhere except in a hole and they should have to dig it.
Posted by slvrnblck (anonymous) on March 31, 2009 at 3:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well josie's, it was bound to happen sooner or later. I completely agree with you, except I think they should be executed similarly to how they killed that poor woman. And yes, they should have to dig their own hole first!
Posted by hottopics (anonymous) on March 31, 2009 at 9:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where did they go wrong in life? Did they even have anything to say for themselves? I think that when word gets around the prison, they may get their own form of justice. But most likely they will be uncaring and aggressive inmates that we will have to pay to keep alive for the next 50 years.
Prayers to the families and friends that have had to endure not just her death but her justice.
Posted by oh4theluvof (anonymous) on March 31, 2009 at 10:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have heard the financial argument about the death penalty in other conversations, and frankly, I don't care right now. So what if it costs a few extra bucks to have true justice--ever hear the old adage, "You get what you pay for?" I know no one had brought that into the comments yet, so just call this preemptive. No one is really that frightened of jail or prison anymore, as evidenced by the overcrowded system and all the deals and early paroles being given. I say let's spend a bit more money handing out some REAL penalties and see how many inhibitions we can create out here in the real world. I bet a few executions would pay for themselves in reduced heinous crimes. It's an experiment I fully support, and I say we start with these two ______________(e)s
Posted by alfalfa (anonymous) on March 31, 2009 at 10:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Never saw a case cry out for the death penalty more than this one. Makes me sick to read the account. I can't imagine why they didn't get it. Hang 'em.
Posted by josiesbar (anonymous) on March 31, 2009 at 11:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is it only me, or do they look like tweekers to anyone else? I say hang em high, hang em long, and HANG EM PROUD! They didn't "kill" this person, they executed her! HANG EM HIGH!
Posted by create (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I join my voice with all of yours, hang 'em! I could hardly bear to read all the details of their brutality. That poor woman. This case certainly gives reason for keeping the death penalty. Trouble is, we need to put some teeth in such a law and not allow all the constant appeals that the taxpayer must bear.
I don't know what a tweeker is, josie's, but I'm guessing it's a druggie of some sort. Sure looks like meth on Haberlein's face. You can just tell that empty, gaunt, depraved look. I was going to ask about what happens to the mind of a 17-year-old that allows him to be so brutal, but in view of meth, now I know. It's lost.
Yes, hang them all and do it right away. These animals are worthless.
Posted by josiesbar (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
create
Tweeker = meth head, which, in my opinion, is the worst kind of junkie.
Posted by Happiness09 (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It just makes me wonder what makes people the way they are. Two of them were only 17 and one was 20. I just can't understand how they could be so "warped" at such a young age.
Posted by create (anonymous) on April 1, 2009 at 1:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Chemical lobotomy, Happiness, that's what does it. The stuff eats up your brain cells and creates zombies.
Let's remember that Meth is just one of the substances that is causing all the killings on the border right now. It's coming up here from Mexico where they make it by the ton so any law we've passed around here to make cold medicines less available because it is used for making meth doesn't mean anything more than a finger in the dike.
Posted by RobinBellsDaughter (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 9:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hello everyone. My name is Melissa Mathia, I am Robin Bells oldest daughter. I wanted to thank all of you for your support and your prayers. If you have any questions about the trial, feel free to email me at my Robin Bell Support Email address at Whokilledme@yahoo.com. Thanks again!
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