The Killer in My Family returns to Quest Red with an examination of Robert Towery, convicted of the murder of Mark Jones in 1991. The episode explores the impact of Towery’s crime through interviews with his sister and an examination of the case’s details.
On October 3, 1991, Robert Charles Towery was charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, and other crimes in Maricopa County. The charges centred on the death of Mark Jones, a philanthropist murdered in his own home in Paradise Valley the previous month.
This episode examines the disturbing similarities between Jones’ murder and the high-profile killings of Lawrence and Glenna Shapiro, an elderly couple who were also accosted and killed in their Paradise Valley home. While the Shapiros were shot, Towery strangled Jones with a flex-cuff after injecting him with battery acid.
The programme includes insights from police officers and journalists involved in the case, as well as psychological analysis from experts. It also features an interview with Towery’s co-defendant, Randy Barker, who received a 10-year prison sentence as part of a plea deal. In contrast, Towery was sentenced to death for murder and given concurrent prison terms for the other charges.
The Killer in My Family: Robert Towery airs on Saturday, 7 September 2024, at 9:00 pm on Quest Red.