Oba Chandler: The Man Who Denied Guilt Until the End
In June 1989, the bodies of Joan Rogers and her two teenage daughters, Michelle and Christie, were found in Tampa Bay. They had been tied to concrete blocks with yellow polypropylene rope around their necks. For three years, the case remained unsolved until handwriting left at the scene led police to a suspect.
The story of the exhaustive search for Oba Chandler is now featured on the LA News Center’s True Crime podcast. This week’s episode includes commentary from those involved in the infamous case. Chandler, 46 at the time, was charged with the murders after a woman recognized his handwriting from a police billboard. She had hired him to build aluminum enclosures.
The victims, ages 36, 17, and 14, were found with their mouths taped shut and were partially nude. Autopsies revealed they had died from asphyxiation, but it was unclear whether they had been drowned or strangled. Their bodies had been submerged for over 50 hours, making it difficult to determine if they had been sexually assaulted.
The Rogers family went unidentified for days until a Days Inn housekeeper realized they hadn’t returned to their hotel room. Detectives discovered that Joan and her daughters were on vacation in Florida while her husband stayed behind in Ohio. Hal Rogers was quickly cleared of suspicion after revealing that Michelle had been sexually abused by her uncle, John. The incident had gone unreported out of fear.
The case took a turn when a Canadian tourist reported being raped by a man on a blue and white boat just two weeks before the Rogers family was killed. The composite sketch of the suspect matched Chandler’s appearance, and his handwriting was found on a note with directions to the boat ramp where the victims’ car was discovered.
In 1992, Chandler’s handwriting sample was posted on billboards and in newspapers throughout Florida. Eventually, someone recognized it, leading to his arrest. Additional evidence, including phone records placing Chandler near the crime scene, convinced the district attorney to press murder charges.
At his trial, Chandler admitted to meeting the Rogers family and writing the directions but maintained his innocence. He questioned the lack of evidence against him. Despite his claims, he was found guilty and sentenced to death. On his execution day in 2011, Chandler handed corrections officers a note proclaiming his innocence.
In 2014, Chandler was linked to another unsolved murder through DNA evidence. The rape kit of Ivelisse Berrios Beguerisse matched Chandler’s DNA. She had been strangled to death in 1990, and her case remained open until the connection was made.
The families of Chandler’s victims experienced mixed emotions upon learning about the DNA match. While grateful for some closure, they had to revisit the painful memories of their loved ones’ deaths. The impact of Chandler’s crimes continues to be felt by those affected.
The story of Oba Chandler serves as a reminder of the relentless pursuit of justice and the long-lasting pain caused by heinous crimes.
