Did Robert Charles Browne Really Murder 48?

Browne, 53, provided the first cryptic clues to his crime spree in a taunting letter to El Paso county prosecutors in 2000 while service life without parole in the Colorado state prison in Colorado Springs for the kidnap and murder of 13-year-old Colorado girl Heather Dawn Church in 1991. "The score is you[,] one, the other team[,] 48," Browne wrote from his cell. The letter piqued the interest of some cold-case volunteers who call themselves the Apple Dumping Gang. The group includes 79-year-old Charlie Hess, a former FBI and CIA agent, and Lou Smit, 71, who worked on the JonBenet Ramsey murder. Smit became interested in Browne after he learned that two women in Browne's hometown of Coushatta, La., were murdered in an apartment complex where Browne worked as a maintenance man.

Hess wrote to and then met with Browne. Four years of conversations eventually produced the confessions. In one that has been verified, Browne admitted to killing Colorado woman Rocio Sperry. Browne provided details about Sperry's marriage that could have only been obtained through direct conversation. Browne also described a ring he took from her finger and later sold; the El Paso County Sheriff's Office confirmed that story with the ring's buyer. Browne pleaded guilty Thursday to first-degree murder in Sperry's death and was given a second life sentence.

El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa says Browne could be exaggerating but authorities must proceed as if the claims are true. Of the 48 murders claimed, Browne has provided information in just 19. Of that number, Maketa says Browne is a "strong suspect" in seven. Verifying the claims is an exhaustive process. "It's not like we sit down with him every day and he answers all our questions," says Maketa. "We have not been able to extract any information from him that he doesn't want to supply. Sometimes he doesn't want to discuss cases and only wants to chat." Browne has claimed nine victims in Colorado but has provided information on just two.

Hess says he has no reason to distrust Browne. "He provided extensive details on the method of murder, location of body, in some instances how the victim was dressed," Hess says. "In some cases he even drew maps." El Paso County officers contacted the jurisdictions where the murders took place and verified details in seven of the cases. "In those seven cases, the locations were all right on the money. The method of killing was in order. We didn't find any major discrepancies."

Hess describes Browne as being intelligent and respectful. "He never swears. He's courteous." He spoke with Browne for 30 minutes on Friday but did not discuss murders. Browne's attorney in the Sperry case has requested that authorities hold off on the questioning for now. Hess expects Browne will open up once again in the future. "I think we have a lot more to learn."

© 2006