In the summer of 1989, a promising life was tragically cut short in Columbus, Georgia. Albert L. 'Bert' Oliver III, a 31-year-old man, was last seen on July 6 of that year, a day that would end in violence and loss. Oliver gave an acquaintance, Scott Lynn Christenson, a ride in his Toyota sport utility vehicle. This seemingly simple act of kindness took a dark turn when Christenson directed Oliver to a remote area in Harris County.
Once they were in the secluded location, Christenson
brandished a handgun, leading to a struggle between the two men. The confrontation spilled out of the vehicle, and during the fight, Oliver was shot five times. After the shooting, Christenson took Oliver's body and concealed it with sticks and brush about 100 yards off the highway. He then fled in Oliver's vehicle, driving to Arkansas. It was there, on the evening of July 7, that his flight from justice came to an end when he was arrested for stealing gasoline.
Following his arrest, Christenson's story began to unravel. He initially denied stealing the vehicle but later confessed to both the theft and the murder of Albert Oliver after Oliver's body was discovered. In fact, Christenson provided four separate statements admitting to the killing, which included a written confession, two audio-taped statements, and a videotaped reenactment of the crime.
Scott Lynn Christenson was subsequently convicted by a jury for the murder and armed robbery of Albert L. Oliver III and was sentenced to death. The case, however, navigated a lengthy appeals process. At one point, Christenson's death sentence was vacated due to his trial counsel being deemed ineffective during the sentencing phase of the trial. Despite this, his conviction for the murder of Albert Oliver was affirmed.
