Killing Them Was Easier Than a Divorce – The Chilling Confession of the 'Black Widower'
Robert Spangler was a master manipulator whose crimes spanned decades, leaving behind a trail of death and deceit. Despite his charming demeanor, Spangler orchestrated the murders of his loved ones in cold blood and became known as the "Black Widower" — escaping justice twice before his final confession.
A Family Murder Staged as Tragedy
In 1978, Spangler's first wife, Nancy, and their two children were found dead in their Littleton, Colorado, home. The scene appeared to be a murder-suicide, with Nancy seemingly killing the children before taking her own life.
However, the details didn't add up. Nancy's hands showed no traces of gunpowder residue, and the bullet wound was inconsistent with her holding the gun to her own head. Furthermore, weighing only around 100 pounds, it was unlikely that Nancy could have overpowered her 17-year-old son, especially given evidence of a struggle at the crime scene.
Although investigators acknowledged the details of the case didn't quite point to a murder-suicide, no charges were filed against Spangler. His quick remarriage after the tragedy only deepened suspicions — but without solid evidence, he remained free.
Sharon Cooper: A Troubled Romance and Mysterious Overdose
Sharon Cooper, a co-worker and Spangler's girlfriend during the time of the murder, became his second wife on July 14, 1979, just seven months after the deaths of his first wife and children. Their marriage was fraught with difficulties over the course of nine years, eventually leading to an expensive divorce.
Years later, the pair would rekindle their relationship for a short five months before her death from a drug overdose on Oct. 2, 1994. Her death was ruled as either a suicide or accidental, but given Spangler's history of manipulation and staging deaths, questions still linger about whether Sharon became another victim in his web of deceit.
Donna Sundling: A Marriage on the Edge
Robert Spangler's third marriage to Donna Sundling began on Aug. 18, 1990, but the relationship quickly grew strained. Donna, a fitness instructor, tried to support Spangler's passion for hiking the Grand Canyon, despite her fear of heights and difficulty navigating the demanding trails. Though she joined him on hikes, it became clear she wasn't as enthusiastic about the activity as he was.
As Donna began to participate less, Spangler's dissatisfaction with the marriage grew. Financially weary from his previous divorce, he avoided ending the relationship outright. Hoping to repair their relationship, Donna agreed to one last hike in the Grand Canyon.
On Easter Sunday, April 11, 1993, during that fateful hike, Donna fell to her death. Spangler claimed it was an accident, insisting she had lost her balance and slipped while posing for a photo. He said he turned around, and Donna simply vanished — he heard nothing. The rangers thought this seemed odd — and also noted that the cliff where Donna fell was the only spot on the hiking trail where a fatal fall would have been possible.
Still, despite lingering suspicions about foul play, authorities were unable to prove otherwise. Her death was officially ruled an accident, leaving Spangler free to move on yet again.
A Grim Diagnosis and Wife No. 4
By the mid-1990s, investigators started to notice a concerning pattern of dead wives in connection with Spangler. The FBI reopened Spangler's cases, leveraging modern forensic techniques and psychological profiling.
Meanwhile, Spangler had an appointment with his doctor on Aug. 12, 2000, where he got a grim diagnosis: untreatable lung cancer that had already spread to his brain. At the time, Spangler was 67.
A few weeks later, on Sept. 1, 2000, he married his fourth wife, Judy Hilty.
Law enforcement decided to make their move on the Black Widower, fearing Judy might suddenly fall victim to a tragic "accident," like her predecessors.
Confession and Final Reckoning
When authorities knocked on the door of Spangler's Grand Junction, Colorado, home and asked him to come in for questioning, everything was already in place.
The officers opened the conversation with admiration, claiming they had never seen a killer quite like him before.
His answer? "It requires a singular focus in committing the actual crime, quite cold-bloodedly," Spangler confessed, according to CrimeLibrary.org. Spangler's terminal diagnosis may have influenced his decision to come clean, knowing he had little time left.
He then admitted to murdering his first wife Nancy and their two children, as well as his third wife, Donna Sundling. However, he continued to deny any involvement in the death of his second wife, Sharon Cooper. Investigators were stunned by his lack of remorse and cold detachment.
But in a shocking reversal, on Nov. 5, 2000, Spangler claimed his brain cancer had clouded his judgment, pleading not guilty and casting doubt on his previous confessions. But later, he agreed to a plea bargain, accepting a life sentence for Donna Sundling's murder in the first degree.
Spangler ultimately died of cancer on Aug. 5, 2001, while serving his sentence, leaving behind a legacy of calculated violence.
The Final Chapter
Spangler's motives throughout his life were chillingly calculated, driven by a desire to rid himself of relationships that no longer suited him. His ability to evade justice was a chilling testament to his meticulous planning and exploitation of investigative weaknesses.
By staging crime scenes to look like accidents or to deflect attention from himself, he effectively manipulated authorities and escaped suspicion for years. His charm and outwardly normal demeanor further masked his dark intentions, allowing him to lead an unremarkable life between his calculated acts of murder.
In the end, Spangler's story serves as a haunting reminder of how evil can hide in plain sight, cloaked in the guise of ordinary life.
References: Robert Spangler: Black Widower | For Suspected Killer, Death Part of His Life
