For other people with the same name, see Robert Hale.
Robert Allan Hale (April 7, 1941 – May 24, 2008) — known as Bobby Hale, as well as Papa Pilgrim and Sunstar — was an American criminal who mentally, physically, and sexually abused his wife and 15 children in the Alaskan wilderness.
1957 Arlington Heights High School Yearbook Photo, Bobby Hale, page 55
On April 29, Hale testified that Kathleen had left their apartment after an argument on the evening of April 27 and did not return until noon the following day.[3] According to Hale, he spent the night looking for her and returned to find her sitting on a couch holding the gun.[2][3] He said that his wife was about to commit suicide and that the gun discharged when he lunged at it.[2][3] Both fathers testified at the inquest; John Connally stated that his daughter was pregnant and had been despondent over the move to Florida.[3] After 45 minutes of deliberations, Hale was cleared of responsibility for Kathleen's death when the jury ruled it to be an accident.[1][2][3]
Other legal troubles and death
On August 7, 1962, before living in Alaska, Hale and his twin brother "Billy" Hale were observed by an FBI agent as they burgled the Los Angeles apartment of Judith Exner, who later claimed to be a mistress of President John F. Kennedy.[4]
In 1974, Robert Hale (then going by the name "Sunstar") met 16-year-old Kurina Rose Bresler in the California desert. She would later call herself "Country Rose" and bear Hale 15 children.[5] Hale had gained notoriety through his family's iconoclastic lifestyle. A self-proclaimed devout Christian, Hale moved his family of 17 to Alaska from New Mexico in 1998 and kept them isolated from nearly all outside influences, including churches.
In 2002, Hale launched a legal battle with the National Park Service over his plan to bulldoze a road to his 410-acre ranch ("Hillbilly Heaven") inside the remote Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, near the small town of McCarthy, Alaska.[5] He lost his case at the US Court of Appeals (9th Cir., San Francisco). He appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Court refused to hear it.
In 2005, family members told police that Hale had routinely beaten and raped his eldest daughter for years. He was incarcerated in September 2007 and died eight months later on May 26, 2008. He was a diabetic and had been in poor health since at least 2006.[5]
Hale was mentioned in Seymour Hersh's 1997 book The Dark Side of Camelot.[1][4] In 2013 a book was published by Tom Kizzia titled Pilgrim's Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier, chronicling Hale's life with a focus on his time in McCarthy. The initial arrival of Hale and the Pilgrim Family in McCarthy was also documented by the humourist and travel-documentarist Pete McCarthy in The Road To McCarthy (2002).
^ abcdefghGillespy, James (April 30, 1959). "Bride's Death Ruled Accidental". The Dispatch. Vol. LXXVII, no. 202. Lexington, Kentucky. UPI. p. 16. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
^ abHarden, Blaine (September 28, 2003). "A Bulldozer Runs Through It". The Washington Post.
^ abcHarden, Blaine (December 28, 2006). "Father of 15 faces prison in incest case: 'Papa Pilgrim' gained fame as rebel in Alaska". The Boston Globe.
External links
Tom Kizzia, "Papa Pilgrim dies in jail, unrepentant and alone", Anchorage Daily News, May 26, 2008.
Mark Kirby, "Papa Pilgrim's Progress: The Dark Tale of an Alaskan Frontiersman", Outside Magazine, November 19, 2008.
robert, allen, hale, other, people, with, same, name, robert, hale, robert, allan, hale, april, 1941, 2008, known, bobby, hale, well, papa, pilgrim, sunstar, american, criminal, mentally, physically, sexually, abused, wife, children, alaskan, wilderness, 1957,. For other people with the same name see Robert Hale Robert Allan Hale April 7 1941 May 24 2008 known as Bobby Hale as well as Papa Pilgrim and Sunstar was an American criminal who mentally physically and sexually abused his wife and 15 children in the Alaskan wilderness 1957 Arlington Heights High School Yearbook Photo Bobby Hale page 55 Contents 1 Early life 2 Other legal troubles and death 3 References 4 External linksEarly life EditRobert Allan Hale was the son of Virginia and I B Hale 1 He had a twin brother Billy and younger brother Tommy 1 He grew up in Fort Worth Texas and attended Arlington Heights High School 1 As an 18 year old senior Hale eloped in Ardmore Oklahoma with 16 year old Kathleen K K Connally the daughter of future Texas governor John Connally 1 2 On March 16 1959 the couple were married in Ardmore prior to moving into an apartment in Tallahassee Florida 1 2 3 Hale worked for a boat company earning 75 per week 2 3 The couple had been married only 44 days when Kathleen died after a 20 gauge shotgun discharged behind her right ear on April 28 1959 1 2 Hale spent that night in jail 1 police reported that he was held in protective custody pending the ruling of a coroner s jury 3 On April 29 Hale testified that Kathleen had left their apartment after an argument on the evening of April 27 and did not return until noon the following day 3 According to Hale he spent the night looking for her and returned to find her sitting on a couch holding the gun 2 3 He said that his wife was about to commit suicide and that the gun discharged when he lunged at it 2 3 Both fathers testified at the inquest John Connally stated that his daughter was pregnant and had been despondent over the move to Florida 3 After 45 minutes of deliberations Hale was cleared of responsibility for Kathleen s death when the jury ruled it to be an accident 1 2 3 Other legal troubles and death EditOn August 7 1962 before living in Alaska Hale and his twin brother Billy Hale were observed by an FBI agent as they burgled the Los Angeles apartment of Judith Exner who later claimed to be a mistress of President John F Kennedy 4 In 1974 Robert Hale then going by the name Sunstar met 16 year old Kurina Rose Bresler in the California desert She would later call herself Country Rose and bear Hale 15 children 5 Hale had gained notoriety through his family s iconoclastic lifestyle A self proclaimed devout Christian Hale moved his family of 17 to Alaska from New Mexico in 1998 and kept them isolated from nearly all outside influences including churches In 2002 Hale launched a legal battle with the National Park Service over his plan to bulldoze a road to his 410 acre ranch Hillbilly Heaven inside the remote Wrangell St Elias National Park near the small town of McCarthy Alaska 5 He lost his case at the US Court of Appeals 9th Cir San Francisco He appealed to the U S Supreme Court and the Court refused to hear it In 2005 family members told police that Hale had routinely beaten and raped his eldest daughter for years He was incarcerated in September 2007 and died eight months later on May 26 2008 He was a diabetic and had been in poor health since at least 2006 5 Hale was mentioned in Seymour Hersh s 1997 book The Dark Side of Camelot 1 4 In 2013 a book was published by Tom Kizzia titled Pilgrim s Wilderness A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier chronicling Hale s life with a focus on his time in McCarthy The initial arrival of Hale and the Pilgrim Family in McCarthy was also documented by the humourist and travel documentarist Pete McCarthy in The Road To McCarthy 2002 References Edit a b c d e f g h i Douglas Jack Jr December 9 2007 The strange story of Papa Pilgrim Fort Worth Star Telegram p A10 a b c d e f g Hale Cleared In Death Of Wife Ocala Star Banner Ocala Florida Associated Press April 30 1959 p 15 Retrieved May 26 2013 a b c d e f g h Gillespy James April 30 1959 Bride s Death Ruled Accidental The Dispatch Vol LXXVII no 202 Lexington Kentucky UPI p 16 Retrieved August 19 2015 a b Harden Blaine September 28 2003 A Bulldozer Runs Through It The Washington Post a b c Harden Blaine December 28 2006 Father of 15 faces prison in incest case Papa Pilgrim gained fame as rebel in Alaska The Boston Globe External links EditTom Kizzia Papa Pilgrim dies in jail unrepentant and alone Anchorage Daily News May 26 2008 Mark Kirby Papa Pilgrim s Progress The Dark Tale of an Alaskan Frontiersman Outside Magazine November 19 2008 Robert Allen Hale at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Allen Hale amp oldid 1068118421, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
