United Kingdom
BLACK
Robert
Active from 1981-1986 in United Kingdom
DID YOU KNOW...
Hurtful Fact
Between 1981-1983, Robert Black, Leslie Bailey and Dennis Nilson were all serial killers in the UK targeting children
Interesting Fact
Black returned to the scene of his last abduction so quickly, police were still on scene
Sad Fact
It took 30 years for Black to be convicted of the murder of his first victim
THE DISPATCH
The Beginning
Robert Black was not among the almost 190,000 persons featured in the investigations of the murders of Sarah Harper, Caroline Hogg and Susan Maxwell. Over a number of years after his conviction for 3 murders, he would be investigated for a number of other crimes. Black himself claimed he’d killed 19 young girls.
Multiple Murderers
There were multiple serial killers of children operating at the same time as Black in the United Kingdom. His first murder was in Northern Ireland, and wasn’t linked to him for decades.
The Murders
Jennifer Cardy
- August 12, 1981
- Ballinderry, Northern Ireland
Nine-year-old Jennifer Cardy went missing on August 12, 1981. She had set out on bicycle to visit a friend in her home town of Ballinderry, but never arrived. Her bicycle was found more than a mile away from her home, but police and searchers were unable to find the girl.
Cardy’s fully-clothed body was found days later, on August 18. She was recovered from McKee’s Dam, a reservoir near a rest stop in Hillsborough. Authorities immediately suspected the killer must beach local person because of the girl’s location. The lake, McKee’s Dam, was muddy and hard to find. It was known by only a few locals, and people speculated the killer didn’t accidentally find in while looking for a dump site.
Cardy was 16 miles (26 km) from her home. She had been strangled and drowned.
Susan Claire Maxwell
- July 30, 1982
- Cornhill-on-Tweed, England
Susan Claire Maxwell left her home in Cornhill-on-Tweed, England on July 30, 1982. The 11-year-old had travelled about 1 mile (1.6 km) away from her home, to Coldstream, Scotland. She played some tennis and was heading home again when she disappeared.
On August 12, 1982, Maxwell’s fully clothed body was found beside the A518 road near Uttoxeter, 264 miles (425 km) from where she had been abducted. Police believed she had been lying in a thicket near the rest stop since the day of, or next, after her abduction.
Caroline Hogg
- July 08, 1983
- Edinburgh, Scotland
Five-year old Caroline Hogg went missing on July 8, 1993. She had been at the Fun City amusement center in the Portobello neighborhood of Edinburgh. She had left her home at about 7pm, and was later seen leaving the center in the company of a man.
Police considered a link between Hogg’s disappearance and the year-old murder of 11-year-old Susan Maxwell. The decomposed body of Hogg was found on July 18, 1983. She was found in a ditch near a rest stop on A444, between the villages of Twycross and Sibson. She was 300 miles away from where she was last seen. Police identified her by a locket and hair pins, and confirmed her identity with dental records. She was unclothed when found.
Sarah Jayne Harper
- March 26, 1986
- Morley England
Sarah Jayne Harper went missing on March 26, 1986. She headed out of her home to the store just 2 minutes away, but never came home. The store employee confirmed the 10-year-old girl had bought a loaf of bread and some crisps before heading back toward her home just 150m (500ft.) away. Hundreds of people joined the 100 detectives searching for the choir girl over the next few days. Harper’s body was found on April 19, 1986, floating in River Trent at Wilford near Nottingham. She had been sexually assaulted, beaten and drowned. Black dumped hey body more than 113km (70 miles) from where he had abducted her. Media immediately tired her death to the deaths of both Maxwell and Hogg, and then too almost a dozen missing children. Two on the list, Tildesley and Lewis, were murdered by a different serial killer, Patrick Bailey.
Arrests & Trials
Robert Black Arrested
- July 14, 1990
- Edinburgh, Scotland
On July 14, 1990, Lothian and Borders police arrested Robert Black for the indecent assault and kidnapping of a 6-year-old girl.
A passerby had noticed the little girl disappear as she passed by a white van, and notified police. Police stopped the van as he drove back towards the village he’d taken her from. Police found the girl in the van in a sleeping bag, with her mouth taped, and a bag over her head.
On July 17, they began questioning Black about the murders of the three young girls. They said it was a matter of routine, and he was the fourth or fifth man to have been interviewed in the murder of the girls.
Life Sentence for Assault
- August 10, 1990
- Edinburgh, Scotland
On August 10, 1990, Black was found guilty of assaulting the 6-year-old girl, and sentenced to a life term. Police continued to question him about the murders.
Murder and Abduction Charges Laid
- March 10, 1992
- Newcastle, England
On March 10, 1992, authorities finally laid charges against Black for the murders of Maxwell, Hogg and Harper. He was also charged with the attempted abduction of 15-year-old Teresa Thornhill.
At just 147cm (4’10”), he apparently confused her for a child. Thornhill fought back, biting Black and screaming for help. A young man who was with Thornhill just minutes previously, came to her aid. Black released the girl and fled in his van.
Black Guilty of 3 Murders
- May 19, 1994
- Newcastle, England
The five week trial ended, and the jury found Black guilty of all 10 charges on May 19, 1994. He was given 10 life sentences for various offenders, including 3 murders of Maxwell, Hogg and Harper.
Rumours Swirl
- From 1994-2005
- Scotland, England, Northern Ireland
For years, police investigated the unsolved murders of children. On June 20, 1996, they questioned Black about the 1981 murder of Jennifer Cardy and the 1978 disappearance of 12-year-old Genette Tate. He was also suspected in the 1969 disappearance of April Fabb, 13.
An inquiry into the missing and murdered girls wound up on April 16, 1997. Unconfirmed reports indicated police scrutinized 16 unsolved cases in total, but the project ended without any charges being laid.
Over the next few years, sensational newspaper stories would claim Black confessed to murdering Cardy, but police would always dismiss the rumours.
Black Arrested for Cardy Murder
- May 17, 2005
- Nothern Ireland
Over the following years, psychologists, parents and anonymous sources tried to link Black to the murder of Cardy.
On May 17, 2005, the Police Service of Northern Ireland announced they had arrested a man on suspicion of the murder of Jennifer Cardy. They confirmed to media that the man was Robert Black. He was formally charged on December 17, 2009. It would be another 2 years after the charge, before a trial took place.
Black Guilty of Killing Cardy
- October 27, 2011
- Belfast, Northern Ireland
Black was found guilty of murdering Cardy on October 27, 2011, more than 30 years after her death. On December 8 of the same year, he was handed a life term with a 25-year minimum for her murder.
Robert Black Dies
Robert Black was 68-years-old when he died on January 12, 2016. Authorities confirmed his death at the high-security Maghaberry Prison, near Lisburn, Northern Ireland, was not treated as suspicious.
BOOKS
Books about or including Robert “Smelly Bob” Black
The Road To Murder: Why Driving Is The Occupation Of Choice For Britain’s Serial Killers by Adam Lynes
Publisher : Waterside Press (April 5, 2017)
Language : English
Paperback : 266 pages
ISBN-10 : 1909976377
ISBN-13 : 978-1909976375
Why do serial killers gravitate towards certain kinds of occupation? Why do they pursue certain types of victim? How do they leave the radar and remain hidden? Through his wide knowledge of the topic honed at one of Britain’s leading centres for criminological studies, Adam Lynes demonstrates how theory, practice, profiling and behaviour intertwine to identify the kind of people we should fear (and especially if we are vulnerable to predators). The book also looks at those personality-types most likely to become serial killers whilst hiding in plain sight. From Britain’s serial killing studies centre of excellence. Looks in depth at eight of Britain’s serial killer drivers, dealing with some of the most notorious crimes of modern times. A fresh and uniquely interesting perspective. Demonstrates the links between mobility, transience, recognizance, predatory behavior and acting out murderous fantasies.
Maggots, Murder, and Men: Memories and Reflections of a Forensic Entomologist by Zakaria Erzinçlioglu
Publisher : Minotaur Books; 1st edition (January 10, 2002)
Language : English
Hardcover : 256 pages
ISBN-10 : 0312287747
ISBN-13 : 978-0312287740
The science of forensic entomology-the application of insect biology to the investigation of crime-is extremely specialized, combining as it does an expert knowledge of entomology with keen powers of observation and deduction. Dr. Erzinclioglu has been a practitioner for over twenty-five years and has been involved in a great number of investigations, including some recent high-profile cases, where his evidence has been critical to the outcome.
A great admirerer of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Erzinclioglu compares his own techniques with those of his fictional hero, and takes the reader behind the often gruesome but deeply fascinating scenes of a murder investigation. This absorbing book ranges over cases from history, prehistory and mythology to the present day and is as gripping and readable as a good thriller.
Murder on File: The World’s Most Nortorious Killers by Richard Whittington-Egan
Publisher : Neil Wilson Publishing; Illustrated edition (March 1, 2006)
Language : English
Paperback : 224 pages
ISBN-10 : 1903238919
ISBN-13 : 978-1903238912
This gruesome guide details over 100 of the world’s most infamous murderers and their associated crimes. In easy to understand format, each subject is comprehensively detailed under the headings: name (and alias if any), victims, locus, dates of crimes, means, motive and lastly crime watch which graphically records the modus operandum and sets the scene for each and every crime. The Whittington-Egans’ witty and comprehensible style enlivens an otherwise depressing account of these ‘silencer’s of the lambs’. Prime research sources are also listed. A unique guide to the world’s most notorious serial killers. Throughout it all, the Whittington-Egan’s gawky sense of humour runs. Take Ed Gein, the original inspiration for ?Hitchcock’s Psycho?: “It was Mother who screwed up young Eddie. Augusta Gein reared him to have nothing to do with women. But he was very, very interested in them. And when Augusta died, and he was 39, he nailed up her room and went out to the graveyards to dig himself up some women to play with. About nine of them. He did not like their smell, and the murders were a natural extension of his activities. The decapitated body of Mrs Worden, his last victim, was found hanging by the heels from a crossbar hoisted by a block and tackle in a shed at the neglected Gein farm. She had been gutted like a deer and was slit open from her crotch to where her head should have been.” Wisely avoiding the deranged world of the rampant gun-toting killers of recent years, the Whittington-Egans explore only the classic killers who are now household names.
Serial Killers: Hunting Britons And Their Victims, 1960 To 2006 by David Wilson
Publisher : Waterside Press; Illustrated edition (August 1, 2007)
Language : English
Paperback : 192 pages
ISBN-10 : 1904380336
ISBN-13 : 978-1904380337
This eagerly awaited book examines serial killings that took place in Britain from 1960-2006, including the ‘Ipswich Murders’ of late 2006. Serial Killers is a ground-breaking work that looks at these events from victim-related and wider social perspectives. Criminologist and former prison governor David Wilson – who has direct experience of working with several of the offenders concerned – analyzes the existing literature before concluding that it is not everyone that is at risk from ‘Hunting Britons.’ It is people from vulnerable groups who are targeted, mainly the elderly, women involved in prostitution, gay men, runaways, throwaways, and children and kids moving from place to place.
VIDEOS
Videos covering the crimes of serial killer Robert Black
Mollie Westbrook talks about Black’s murders
Emma Kenny covers Black’s serial murders
The Scottish Sun article and video
THE STATS
Statistical table for Robert “Smelly Bob” Black
| Killer Name | BLACK, Robert |
| Killer AKA | Smelly Bob, Smelly Robbie Tulip |
| Gender | M |
| Arrest Date | July 14, 1990 |
| Conviction Date | May 19, 1994 |
| Sentence | 10 life sentences; 25 year term October 27, 2011 |
| Birth Location | Grangemouth, Scotland |
| Birth Date | April 21, 1947 |
| Death Date | January 12, 2016 |
| Deceased | Yes |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes, Heart attack |
| Height | 188 |
| Physical Issue | bad eyesight |
| Speech Issues | No |
| Head Injury | None reported |
| Suffer Physical Abuse | locked out of the house as punishment; spanked with a belt |
| Suffer Physical Abuse | locked out of the house as punishment; spanked with a belt |
| Psychological Abuse | None reported |
| Sexual Abuse | Possibly, while living at the Red House in Musselburgh by 2 male staff members |
| School Grade | 10 |
| School Degree | Diploma, GED, associates, bachelors |
| Caused Problems in School | Robert bullied younger children and got into childish fights. However he did not get into major trouble. |
| Teased | Yes |
| Applied for Police Job | No |
| Worked in Police/Security | No |
| Fired | Yes |
| Job Types | Delivery person, life-guard, swimming pool attendant |
| Labour Type | Blue |
| Fake Job | He drove a delivery van to kidnap each victim |
| Employment Status | Employed as a delivery driver for Poster Dispatch and Storage (PDS) |
| Sexual Preference | Straight |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Number of Children | No |
| Killer Type | Sexual/Sadistic, Disorganized, Wanderer |
| Drug Abuse | No |
| Alcohol Abuse | Drank, but not heavily |
| Psychology | No |
| Institutionalized | No |
| Animal Torture | No |
| Fire Setting | No |
| Bed Wetting | Yes |
| comment1 | Adopted Parents were married Biological Parents were not married |
| comment2 | https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/serial-killer-robert-black-described-21292511 |
| comment3 | Dossier links killer of Morley schoolgirl Sarah Harper to Genette Tate murder ???????? |
| comment4 | http://www.murderuk.com/robert-black.html |
| Total Dead Victims | 4 |
| Victims (Convicted) | 4 |
| Victim Gender | F |
| Victim Race | White |
| Victim Age | 5, 9, 10, 11 |
| Victim Type | children |
| Method of Killing | Strangulation, drowning |
| Abduction | Yes |
| Sex Assault | Yes |
| Binding | Yes |
| Sex Assault on Minor | Yes |
| Washing/Water | Yes |
| Totem-Body | No |
| Totem-Other | No |
| Body - Moved, Hidden | Yes |
| Previous Crimes | Yes, sexual assault of a minor; child porn; petty crimes |
| Previous Prison Time | No |
Killer Rating
RESOURCES
- Belfast Telegraph (Aug 13, 1981)
- The Journal (Aug 19, 1981)
- Belfast Telegraph pt. 1 (Sep 22, 1981)
- Belfast Telegraph pt. 2 (Sep 22, 1981)
- Evening Express (Jul 31, 1982)
- The Press and Journal (Aug 14, 1982)
- Evening Express (Jul 11, 1983)
- Evening Chronicle (Jul 19, 1983)
- Evening News (Mar 28, 1986)
- Sunday Mirror pt. 1 (Apr 20, 1986)
- Sunday Mirror pt. 2 (Apr 20, 1986)
- Newcastle Journal (Jul 18, 1990)
- Daily Record (Jul 25, 1990)
- Cambridge Daily News (Aug 10, 1990)
- Aberdeen Press and Journal (Mar 11, 1992)
- Newcastle Evening Chronicle (Jul 20, 1993)
- Liverpool Echo (Apr 13, 1994)
- Aberdeen Evening Express (Apr 22, 1994)
- Newcastle Journal (Apr 30, 1994)
- Newcastle Evening Chronicle Pt. 1 (May 19, 1994)
- Newcastle Evening Chronicle Pt. 2 (May 19, 1994)
- Aberdeen Evening Express (Jun 20, 1996)
- Dundee Courier (Apr 16, 1997)
- Sunday Life (Aug 19, 2001)
- Sunday World (Dublin) (Oct 20, 2002)
- Irish Independent (May 17, 2005)
- Irish Independent (Dec 17, 2009)
- The Daily Telegraph (Sep 23, 2011)
- Evening Standard (Oct 7, 2011)
- London Evening Standard (Oct 27, 2011)
- Evening Standard (Dec 8, 2011)
- The Independent (Jan 13, 2016)
- Zip File of Paywalled Articles