Six men took part in the Hi-Fi Shop robbery. Police could only build cases against three: Dale Pierre, William Andrews, and Keith Roberts, all airmen stationed at Hill Air Force Base. The other three were never identified or caught.
Key facts
- Convicted: Dale Pierre, William Andrews, Keith Roberts
- Never caught: 3 men
- Pierre: executed 1987
- Andrews: executed 1992
- Roberts: paroled 1987, died 1992
Dale Pierre21 at the time of the crime
- Role
- The gunman, described by police as “the enforcer.” He shot the victims and raped Sherry Ansley.
- Background
- Born in Tobago in 1953; moved to Brooklyn at 17; Air Force helicopter mechanic at Hill Air Force Base. Already a suspect in an earlier base murder and out on bail for car theft.
- Fate
- Convicted of three first-degree murders. Executed by lethal injection on August 28, 1987, at age 34.
William Andrews19 at the time of the crime
- Role
- The organizer, called by police “the brains behind the whole deal.” He brought the Drano and forced it on the hostages but did not fire the fatal shots.
- Background
- Born in Jonesboro, Louisiana, in 1955; helicopter mechanic at Hill Air Force Base. He knew employee Stanley Walker and targeted the store.
- Fate
- Convicted of three first-degree murders. Executed on July 30, 1992, at age 37, after 18 years on death row.
Keith Roberts19 at the time of the crime
- Role
- The getaway driver. He stayed with the vehicles outside.
- Background
- Born in Lawton, Oklahoma, in 1954. A jury found he had no role in or knowledge of the killings.
- Fate
- Acquitted of murder; convicted of aggravated robbery and sentenced to 5 years to life. Paroled in 1987; died by suicide in 1992.
The three who got away
Police reports described six men in two vans. Roberts and one other man stayed with the cars; two more loaded the vans while Pierre and Andrews carried out the torture and killings. Detectives never gathered enough evidence to identify or charge the other three.