Suvechha Sarkar
In November 2001, Robert Dale Andrew, lovingly known as Rob, was at his home in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, when he was brutally shot. His untimely demise shocked the community to its very core and left his family members grief-stricken. Initially, it seemed like a case of home invasion, but the investigation revealed a complex web of conspiracy. The episode titled ‘The Thanksgiving Ambush’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Someone You Thought You Knew,’ delves deeper into the devastating case, which continues to draw attention decades later. It also features interviews with the officials who worked on the case, as well as his friends.
Rob Andrew Died From Gunshot Wounds in What Seemed Like a Home Invasion
Robert Dale Andrew arrived as a beacon of light in the lives of his parents, E.R. and Lou Ellen Andrew, on September 19, 1964. He was born in Enid, Oklahoma, and grew up in the small town. He was always close to his three brothers: Bill, Tim, and Tom. Rob laid the foundation for his career by completing his initial education at Chisholm High School in 1980. He then enrolled at Oklahoma State University and attained a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising, along with a minor in Marketing, in 1984. Ultimately, Rob made his mark in the professional world by joining Jordan Associates Advertising/Communications in 1988. Over the years, he advanced within the organization to become Senior Vice President. Eventually, Rob’s exceptional service helped him bag several awards and become a renowned public speaker.
Being a man of faith, Rob proudly became an active member of the North Point Baptist Church. At that congregation, he also served as a Deacon. Moreover, his zeal to help others led him to join the Board of Junior Achievement and serve as Director of Positive Tomorrows. When Rob grew up in Enid, he already knew Brenda Evers, since she also lived there. Eventually, their relationship bloomed, leading to their marriage on June 2, 1984. Within a few years, they welcomed their daughter, Tricity Marie, and son, Parker Bryce, into the world. Whenever he got the chance, Rob loved playing Nintendo with his kids. Everything seemed perfect when his life turned upside down on November 20, 2001. Around 7 pm, Brenda called 911 to report that she and her husband had been shot during a home invasion.
When officials arrived, they found Rob dead in the garage, with two gunshot wounds to the abdomen and the chest. They found him holding a trash bag full of cans in front of him, which reportedly suggested he tried to shield himself with it. They determined he was shot with a 16-gauge shotgun and found a spent shell casing of the same caliber, along with a .22 caliber gun bullet projectile. Brenda was reportedly shot in the arm with a .22 caliber weapon and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Upon checking the house, they found no signs of forced entry, and their children were unharmed in the bedroom. The medical examiner reportedly determined his cause of death to be the fatal gunshot wounds, which caused immense blood loss and internal hemorrhage. Brenda reportedly recovered since her wound wasn’t fatal.
Alleged Financial Motives and Forensic Evidence Led Officials to the Killers
Investigators first questioned Brenda, who claimed that she had asked Rob to check the pilot light of the furnace when two gunmen barged into the garage and fired at them from a distance. When asked about their appearance, she told them that the gunmen were allegedly wearing ski masks. Officials learned that on October 3, 2001, Brenda had filed for divorce, and Rob was visiting on that day for a visitation with his children. According to official records, they discovered that around the same time, Rob had made a police report after finding that his car’s brake lines had been cut unnaturally. As per Rob’s statements in the report, he suspected Brenda and his former church friend, James D. Pavatt. Rob reportedly told the authorities that he was suspicious that they were having an affair.
It turned out that James was an insurance agent, and at the beginning of 2001, he persuaded Rob to change his life insurance to one amounting to $800,000. Additionally, Brenda was the sole beneficiary of that policy. According to court records, in the course of the investigation, detectives found a 16-gauge spent shell casing and a few .22 caliber bullets from the house of Rob’s neighbor, Judy Gigstad. They discovered that Judy’s son was the only one with keys to the house at the time. However, Judy’s son was eliminated as a suspect after a thorough investigation. Reports state that it indicated that the killer or the killers might have been present at Judy’s house after the murder. Officials then focused on James, but he was nowhere to be found. Shortly after, James’ daughter, Janna Larson, contacted law enforcement.
Investigative reports state that Janna confessed to making a false call to Rob about his wife and daughter’s accident under the direction of James. The officials believed that James wanted to lure Rob to the highway with the brake lines of his car cut, allegedly to cause an accident. On November 29, 2001, James and Brenda were charged with first-degree murder. Janna reportedly agreed to help law enforcement and let them tap her call with James. According to reports, on a call, James asked Janna for $5,000 and revealed that he was in Mexico. Officials on the show stated that his daughter asked him to take the money from the US. With the help of the FBI, James was finally arrested when he crossed the border in late February 2002. Brenda was reportedly also in the car with him and arrested on the spot.
James and Brenda Andrew Are Serving Their Sentence in State Prisons Today
On July 19, 2002, the authorities reportedly charged Brenda and James with one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder along with the murder charge. The separate jury trial of James began on August 25, 2003, during which the prosecution pointed out James and Brenda’s affair and stated that they planned the murder of Rob, allegedly for financial gain (the insurance). They argued that James was the one who carried out the shooting. According to court records, his defense contested the element of intent. The jury ultimately convicted him of both charges. On October 21, 2003, James received the death penalty for murder and a 10-year term for conspiracy. The jury trial of Brenda commenced in June 2004.
During the trial, the prosecution reportedly emphasized that she conspired with James to murder Rob and introduced evidence to show her motive and participation. Furthermore, they introduced witness testimonies about her personal life. Brenda’s defense maintained that she did not conspire to have Rob killed. They further contended that there wasn’t direct evidence proving her participation. She was eventually found guilty and sentenced to death for murder and 10 years in prison for conspiracy on September 22, 2004. Although James appealed his conviction and sentence, it was affirmed by the Appellate Court on May 8, 2007. Reports state that he further filed numerous petitions to the Supreme, Federal, and State Courts in 2008, 2010, and 2017, respectively. However, all of them were reportedly rejected.
Brenda had filed for a direct appeal, but the Appellate Court upheld her judgment on June 21, 2007. Her petitions for rehearing in September 2007 and petitions against the admission of the “sex-shaming” evidence were also rejected. On January 21, 2025, the Supreme Court granted her petition and vacated the Tenth Circuit’s decision, reportedly prohibiting the introduction of prejudicial evidence. The court sent the case back to the Tenth Circuit for reconsideration under that standard. Although it doesn’t overturn her conviction or death sentence, the defense can now argue the effect of that evidence at her trial. While Brenda is currently serving her time at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in McLoud, Oklahoma, James is incarcerated at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, Oklahoma.
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