206 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.
Description
See any errors? Let us know!Robert Wayne Danielson: A Detailed Account of His Crimes
Early Life and Initial Crime
Robert Wayne Danielson Jr. was born on August 25, 1946, in Iowa. Little is known about his early life, but he had a history of depression and drug use. In 1970, he was involved in a fatal altercation:- Thomas Elroy Davis (21) - June 23, 1970, near Marcola, Oregon: Danielson shot Davis after a roadside argument. He claimed self-defense but was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Parole and Subsequent Killing Spree
After serving eleven years, Danielson was paroled in 1981. Shortly after, he embarked on a series of murders across multiple states:- Harold Pratt (60) and Betty Pratt (55) - December 9, 1981, at a desert campsite in Arizona: The couple was found bound and shot in the head. Their truck was later discovered abandoned in Yuma.
- Arthur Gray (62) - June 25, 1982: Details about this crime are limited, but Gray was among Danielson's victims during his spree.
- Benjamin Shaffer (69) and Edith Shaffer (62) - July 1982: The elderly couple was murdered, further extending Danielson's trail of violence.
- Ernest Corral (38) - November 1982: Corral became another victim in Danielson's series of killings.
Investigation and Arrest
Danielson's crimes spanned several states, complicating the investigation. However, authorities eventually linked the murders through ballistic evidence and patterns in the crimes. He was apprehended on April 6, 1984. ...Read MoreVictims
See any mistakes? Let us know!
Confirmed Victims: (7)
Thomas Elroy Davis Age: (21), Date of Death: 1970-06-23 ...View 6 additional victims
Links to Additional Sources (10)
See any mistakes? Let us know!Killer's Details
Robert Wayne
Danielson
August 25, 1946Iowa, United States
September 7, 1995 (aged 49)San Quentin, California, United States
Suicide by haning
Male
White
Murder
Death (California), Life imprisonment (Oregon)
7
1970 - 1982
Arizona, Oregon, California
April 6, 1984
Oregon State Penitentiary — Salem, Oregon (Paroled in 1981), San Quentin State Prison — San Quentin, California
07/03/2025










