Robert Joseph Silveria

Serial Killer

Robert Joseph Silveria Jr.: The Boxcar Killer

Background

Robert Joseph Silveria Jr., born on March 3, 1959, in Redwood City, California, is an American serial killer known as "The Boxcar Killer" or "Sidetrack." Over a span of 15 years, from 1981 to 1996, Silveria traversed the United States by freight train, committing a series of brutal murders primarily targeting fellow transients and rail riders. His nomadic lifestyle and affiliation with the Freight Train Riders of America (FTRA), a group known for preying upon fellow rail-riding hobos, facilitated his crimes across multiple states, including California, Oregon, Utah, Arizona, Kansas, Washington, and Florida.

Modus Operandi

Silveria's victims were often fellow drifters he encountered along the railways. He typically employed blunt force to the head, using objects such as "goon sticks" (modified ax handles), pipes, or other readily available weapons. His attacks were swift and lethal, often carried out while the victims slept or were otherwise vulnerable. After the murders, Silveria would rob his victims of their meager possessions, including identification cards, which he used to claim food stamps and other benefits across various states. This pattern of theft not only provided him with resources but also helped him maintain his transient lifestyle without drawing attention to himself.

Confirmed Victims

• Anthony Garcia (62): Bludgeoned to death on April 9, 1989, in West Sacramento, California.
• Darren Royal Miller (19): Found dead in his sleeping bag on July 8, 1992, near Thompson Springs, Utah. Miller had severe head injuries inflicted by Silveria.
• Willie James Clark (54): Discovered on April 28, 1994, in Tallahassee, Florida. Clark, a homeless man who worked as a Salvation Army bell ringer, was robbed and suffered a fatal blow to the head.
• Michael A. Garfinkle (20): Found bludgeoned to death on August 2, 1994, in Emeryville, California. Garfinkle, originally from Tarzana, had recently graduated from Pierce College and was planning to ride boxcars with a friend to Santa Cruz.
• Roger Lee Bowman (38): Discovered on April 21, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Bowman was last seen walking his dog along the train tracks before being beaten and stabbed by Silveria.
• James E. McLean (50): Found stabbed to death on July 23, 1995, in his shack at a homeless encampment in Albany, Oregon. Silveria met McLean walking along the railroad tracks near his shack and murdered him to steal his money.
• Charles Randall Boyd (46): Discovered bludgeoned to death on July 28, 1995, in a collapsed tent in a Kanopolis Lake campground in Kansas. Boyd had met Silveria in El Paso, Texas, and traveled with him to Kansas.
• Paul Wayne Matthews (43): Found dead on October 15, 1995, in a homeless encampment outside Whitefish, Montana. Silveria confessed to killing Matthews following his arrest.
• William Avis Pettit Jr. (39): Discovered bludgeoned to death on December 3, 1995, in a boxcar in Millersburg, Oregon. At the time of Silveria's arrest, he was found with Pettit's backpack and personal documents.
• Michael Andrew Clites (24): Found bludgeoned to death on December 5, 1995, in Portland, Oregon. Silveria was linked to Clites' murder through possession of his identification and other personal items.

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Confirmed Victims: (10)

Anthony Garcia Age: (62), Date of Death: 1989-04-09

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Robert Joseph Silveria Jr. - Wikipedia

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