TAMPA, FL – Oba Chandler, convicted of the brutal murders of Joan Rogers and her two teenage daughters in June 1989, maintained his innocence until the day of his execution. The cases of Rogers and her daughters, Michelle and Christie, remained unsolved for three years after their bodies were found in Tampa Bay, but a breakthrough came when police were able to identify a suspect using handwriting left behind at the crime scene.
Chandler was eventually linked to the murders through a handwritten note found in Roger’s abandoned car, and a woman who had hired Chandler recognized his handwriting, leading to his arrest. Despite overwhelming evidence against him, Chandler always denied any involvement in the murders. However, phone records eventually placed him at the scene of the crime on the night of the killings, leading to murder charges being pressed.
In a shocking turn of events, Chandler was found to be connected to another unsolved murder when DNA from a post-mortem rape kit matched his. The victim, Ivelisse Berrios Beguerisse, was found strangled to death in Coral Springs, Florida.
Chandler’s execution in 2011 did not bring an end to the questions and heartache surrounding these brutal crimes. The families of the victims experienced a mix of emotions, grateful for some closure but still burdened by the pain of revisiting the tragedies.
The ultimate truth of what happened to Joan Rogers and her daughters may never be fully known, but the work of law enforcement and the justice system serves as a reminder of their commitment to pursuing justice and closure for the families affected by these heinous crimes.