ROBERT BLACK - CHILD KILLER FROM EVERYWHERE CAUGHT IN UK AND SCOTLAND

The notorious serial child murderer Robert Black, whose heinous crimes spanned across the United Kingdom and involved the abduction, sexual assault, and murder of multiple young girls, has finally died in prison. Black, a figure synonymous with terror and depravity, passed away from natural causes at Maghaberry Prison, a high-security facility in Northern Ireland, in January 2016. His death was confirmed by the Northern Ireland Prison Service, which issued a statement indicating that the 68-year-old inmate’s passing was not considered suspicious. The authorities have informed the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the coroner, and the Prisoner Ombudsman, but further comments were withheld at that time.

Black’s criminal history is extensive and deeply disturbing. His victims included nine-year-old Jennifer Cardy from Northern Ireland, whom he abducted while she was cycling to a friend’s house in August 1981. Her body was discovered nearly a week later at McKee’s Dam near Hillsborough, County Down, with evidence suggesting sexual assault. Black was working in the area for a poster-delivery company at the time of her abduction, which occurred during a work trip to Northern Ireland. In 2011, he was convicted of kidnapping and murdering Jennifer, and was sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison, with the judge stating he would be at least 89 before eligible for release.

Black’s crimes extended beyond Northern Ireland. In July 1982, 11-year-old Susan Maxwell from Cornhill on Tweed, on the Scottish side of the border, was abducted while playing tennis in Coldstream. Her body was later found 250 miles away in Staffordshire, England, having been raped and strangled. The following year, in July 1983, five-year-old Caroline Hogg from Portobello, Edinburgh, went missing after playing outside her home. Her body was recovered ten days later in Leicestershire, with signs pointing to sexual motives, although cause of death could not be definitively established due to decomposition.

In March 1986, 10-year-old Sarah Harper from Morley, Leeds, disappeared after leaving her home to buy bread. Her body was found dumped in the River Trent near Nottingham a month later. The bodies of Maxwell, Hogg, and Harper were all located within a 26-mile radius, leading police to believe they were linked and that the killer traveled extensively, possibly as part of his occupation as a lorry driver. Black’s pattern of crimes and the geographic spread of the victims raised significant concern and drew comparisons to the infamous Moors Murders.

Black’s arrest came in July 1990 when he was caught in Stow, Scotland, after police observed him abducting a six-year-old girl. The girl was found in the back of his van, tied up and sexually assaulted. A subsequent search of his residence uncovered a large collection of child pornography, further implicating him. He was convicted of abduction and sexual offenses, receiving a life sentence.

Throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, Black faced multiple trials for the murders of the girls he was suspected of killing. In 1994, he was convicted of the murders of Susan Maxwell, Caroline Hogg, and Sarah Harper, after evidence linked him to the scenes through petrol receipts and similarities in the modus operandi. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 35 years, which would keep him incarcerated until at least 2029.

In December 2009, Black was again brought before the court, this time for the murder of Jennifer Cardy. He was found guilty in October 2011 and received a further life sentence, which would keep him behind bars for the rest of his life. His victims’ families, including Jennifer’s parents, Andrew and Patricia Cardy, attended the court proceedings, witnessing the judge’s condemnation of Black’s actions. The judge described the murder as an act of sexual predation and emphasized the profound impact on the victims’ families.

Black’s background is as disturbing as his crimes. Born in April 1947 in Grangemouth, Scotland, he was fostered after his mother refused to acknowledge his father’s identity. His early life was marked by behavioral issues, early sexual experimentation, and multiple instances of abuse and molestation, including attempts at rape from the age of 12. His criminal activities escalated over the years, with convictions for lewd behavior, sexual assault, and child abuse, often involving young girls and even children as young as five.

His pattern of offending was characterized by a disturbing fascination with children’s genitals, which he later admitted to exploring from a young age. His criminal record includes attempts at rape, molestation, and possession of child pornography. Black’s life was marred by a series of institutional placements, including borstals and juvenile detention, as authorities struggled to contain his escalating predatory behavior.

Despite his extensive criminal record, Black was suspected of involvement in other unsolved child murders dating back to 1969 and throughout the 1970s across Europe. Notably, he is considered a prime suspect in the disappearance of 13-year-old Genette Tate in Devon in 1978, although no charges were ever filed due to insufficient evidence. His criminal activities and suspected additional victims continue to cast a long shadow over the UK’s criminal history, illustrating the depths of his depravity and the challenges law enforcement faced in bringing him to justice for all his crimes.