In April of 2016, a story of compassion and tragedy unfolded, culminating in the death of 71-year-old Reverend Rene Wayne Robert, a male Catholic priest. His body was discovered in a wooded area in Waynesboro, Georgia, the victim of homicidal violence. His life was dedicated to helping those on the fringes of society, a calling that ultimately led him to cross paths with the man who would be accused of his murder.
Reverend Robert was last seen on April 10, 2016, in St. Augustine, Florida. Concern grew when he failed to appear for an appointment, prompting a multi-state investigation into his disappearance. The search came to a grim conclusion when his remains were found miles away in Burke County, Georgia. An autopsy would later reveal that he had been shot multiple times.
The investigation quickly focused on 28-year-old Steven James Murray, a man described as a career criminal whom the priest had been trying to help. Murray had been recently released from jail and it is believed that Reverend Robert’s desire to offer aid put him in a vulnerable position. Authorities believe that Murray kidnapped the priest in Florida and drove him to Georgia in Robert's own car.
A significant breakthrough in the case came after Murray was apprehended in Aiken, South Carolina, following a police chase that ended when he crashed the priest's car. In custody, Murray began to cooperate with investigators and eventually led them to the location where he had left Reverend Robert's body.
Following the discovery, Steven James Murray was charged with malice murder and kidnapping. During court proceedings, it was revealed that Murray had forced the elderly priest into the trunk of the car at some point during the abduction. After being denied access to his children in South Carolina, prosecutors stated that Murray drove to a remote area in Georgia, released Reverend Robert from the trunk, and then shot him. Murray was subsequently denied bond. While in custody, he expressed remorse, citing mental health issues and a loss of control.
