Do you know who murdered Robert?
In the late summer of 2017, a bitter custody dispute reached a tragic and violent end, not in the streets of Louisville, but in a quiet parking lot in Riverside, Ohio, with deep and tangled roots stretching back to Kentucky. The life of Robert 'Bobby' Caldwell, a 35-year-old man, was cut short in a hail of gunfire, a brutal act that unfolded in the presence of his three young children. The ensuing investigation would unravel a chilling plot of manipulation and violence, orchestrated by a network of individuals with close ties to the Bluegrass State.
On the evening of August 15, 2017, as Robert Caldwell and his children were leaving a counseling session, a gunman ambushed them, firing more than a dozen shots and ending Caldwell's life. The brazenness of the attack, carried out in front of innocent eyes, sent shockwaves through the community and launched a multi-state investigation that would ultimately lead back to those closest to him. At the heart of the conspiracy was Caldwell's ex-wife, Tawnney Caldwell, and her then-boyfriend, Sterling Roberts.
Investigators discovered a meticulously planned murder-for-hire scheme born out of a contentious custody battle over the Caldwells' children. The plot involved not only Tawnney Caldwell and Sterling Roberts but also members of their families, several of whom resided in Kentucky. Prosecutors revealed that Tawnney and her mother, Chandra Harmon of Burlington, Kentucky, were deeply enmeshed in the plan. A critical piece of the puzzle fell into place when it was discovered that the murder weapon, an AK-47, was purchased in Kentucky. This transaction, and the interstate travel undertaken by the co-conspirators, elevated the case to a federal level.
The investigation painted a grim picture of the lengths to which the suspects went to carry out their plan. Sterling Roberts, with the assistance of Tawnney Caldwell, had stalked his victim, even attempting to lure him to a separate location for a prior murder attempt. When that failed, the plot culminated in the fatal shooting in the Riverside parking lot. In the aftermath, a web of deceit was spun in an attempt to cover up the crime, with Tawnney Caldwell and her mother allegedly intimidating witnesses.
The wheels of justice turned, bringing each of the conspirators to account. Sterling Roberts was ultimately convicted for the murder of Robert Caldwell and sentenced to life in prison. Tawnney Caldwell pleaded guilty to interstate stalking resulting in death and received a 35-year prison sentence. Her mother, Chandra Harmon, and her stepfather, James Harmon, along with Roberts' brothers, also faced charges and were convicted for their roles in the far-reaching conspiracy that, while ending a life in Ohio, had its origins and key moments firmly planted in Kentucky soil.
