Robert Ben Rhoades is recognized as one of the country’s most famous serial killers. Despite the fact that he was convicted of three deaths, the cops have long suspected him of being involved in many more. ‘Evil Lives Here: Deadly Fetish,’ a movie on Investigation Discovery, dives into Robert’s early life and that he became infamous as the “Truck Stop Killer.”
Evil Lives Here is a popular american documentary television show related to Investigation Discovery that shows how Debra Davis meets and marries Robert Ben Rhoades. Later, she becomes an easy victim in his “games,” which includes bondage, bdsm, and, worst of all, violent murders. Debra mentioned Robert having a sexual relationship with her against her will previously, which pushed her to break relationships with him. According to the program, when Debra chose to leave the next day, he went into a fury and assaulted her physically. Debra was eventually able to leave Robert’s rage and focus on moving on. She left about a year and a half into their marriage, and Robert was imprisoned months later for kidnapping a lady in Arizona.
Who is Robert Ben Rhoades?
Robert was born in the state of Iowa in the year 1945. He started attending college before quitting out following a tour in the Marine Corps after high school. Robert later worked in markets, cafés, and factories before becoming a long-haul truck driver who travelled across the United States. Mike Miller, an Arizona police officer, saw a truck parked on the side of the road with its flashing red lights turned on on April 1, 1990. Mike stepped inside to inspect and perhaps provide assistance, but he encountered a terrible situation.
In the sleeping vehicle, Mike discovered a naked woman bound. When she saw him, she screamed. At the same time, he ran into Robert, the truck’s driver. He insisted that what was going on was voluntary. Mike arrested Robert and put him in the patrol car before heading to the woman, not convinced. Her face was swollen and bruised. Robert was quickly arrested and charged with abduction. He allegedly picked her up at a truck stop outside Phoenix, Arizona, and then handcuffed her while she was sleeping, according to the lady.
Robert had been arrested for a suspected kidnapping just months before when a lady escaped his hands and reported him to the authorities. However, she chose not to file charges. A check of Robert’s taxi turned up a bag containing torture instruments that he used on his victims. The cops went to work, realizing there may be more people he had wounded. What they discovered next surprised them.
Patricia Walsh and her husband Douglas Zyskowski, were Robert’s first known victims. He picked up the Washington couple when they were traveling in Texas in January 1990. After murdering Douglas, Robert backed Patricia for several days, torturing and raping her. Robert then murdered Patricia and disposed of her corpse in Utah. Douglas’ body was discovered in Sutton County, Texas. Patricia’s corpse was discovered in October 1990, but it wasn’t until 2003 that dental records helped her to be identified.
Where is Robert Ben Now?
Robert admitted guilt to Regina’s murder and was condemned of first-degree murder in Illinois in 1994. Robert was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of redemption. A few years later, Robert was set to stand trial for the killings of Patricia and Douglas, but their families wanted both crimes prosecuted at the same time. When that was not practicable in Utah, the prosecution dismissed the charges and moved the trial to Texas.
Rhoades was then transferred to Texas for the murders of Walters and Jones, where he pled guilty to their crimes and got a second life sentence in return for the death penalty being lifted. Rhodes is still serving his life term without the possibility of release in the highest security Menard Correctional Center in Berwyn, Illinois.
I hope you found our post interesting and got to know about the character of Rober Ben well.