Offender Record · OFF-2026-175
Robert Spahlaski (photo from the Radford University biography)
Robert Bruce Spahalski
Also known as Bruce
Sex
Male
Race
White
Height
6'3"
Born
1954
Custody
Incarcerated
States
NY
Distinguishing featuresTall, gaunt appearance with thinning black hair as of 2005
Custody
Sentenced December 12, 2006 to 100 years in prison. Great Meadow Correctional Facility where he was housed closed November 6, 2024.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Where a record says named by police, no charge was ever filed: the record rests on a law enforcement agency's public identification of the deceased person, cited below. Not guilty by reason of insanity means the court found the act proven but the person not criminally responsible. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Robert Spahalski was convicted of four counts of murder in the second degree for strangling and bludgeoning four people in Rochester and Webster, New York between 1990 and 2005. He confessed to all four murders after walking into Rochester police headquarters in November 2005 and is serving a 100-year sentence.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Dec 31, 1990, Rochester, New York
Murder in the Second Degree
Monroe County District Attorney, Rochester Police Department · Monroe County Court · Docket 2005-0958 · Penal Law § 125.25 · Arrested Nov 08, 2005 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 100 years (consecutive sentences of 25 years to life per count, four counts total)
Moraine Armstrong, 24, strangled on New Year's Eve 1990 with an electrical cord in her apartment at 509 Lake Avenue, Rochester. Her body was found with cord still wrapped around neck. Spahalski lived across the street. He later confessed she was a sex worker and neighbor.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Spahlaski, Robert; Robert Spahalski; Robert Bruce Spahalski - 2nd Sight Magazine
Offense date Jul 21, 1991, Rochester, New York
Murder in the Second Degree
Monroe County District Attorney, Rochester Police Department · Monroe County Court · Docket 2005-0958 · Penal Law § 125.25 · Arrested Nov 08, 2005 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 100 years (consecutive sentences of 25 years to life per count, four counts total)
Adrian Berger, 35, Spahalski's girlfriend, found dead in her Rochester apartment on Emerson Street in July 1991. Body was heavily decomposed due to heat and time; thermostat turned to maximum. She was a prostitute and drug user. Spahalski's fingerprints found in apartment.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Spahlaski, Robert; People v. Spahalski 2017 Appellate Decision; Robert Bruce Spahalski - 2nd Sight Magazine
Offense date Oct 02, 1991, Webster, New York
Murder in the Second Degree
Webster Police Department, Monroe County District Attorney · Monroe County Court · Docket 2005-0958 · Penal Law § 125.25 · Arrested Nov 08, 2005 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 100 years (consecutive sentences of 25 years to life per count, four counts total)
Charles Grande, 40, beaten to death with hammer in his bedroom in Webster in October 1991. Spahalski met Grande as a sex work client; dispute arose over payment of $20 for sex or shortchange from agreed $60. Spahalski stole approximately $1,000 cash and Grande's car, driving it while impersonating Grande before police stopped him. Thermostat turned up to speed decomposition.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Spahlaski, Robert; People v. Spahalski 2017 Appellate Decision; Robert Spahalski
Offense date Nov 04, 2005, Rochester, New York
Murder in the Second Degree
Rochester Police Department, Monroe County District Attorney · Monroe County Court · Docket 2005-0958 · Penal Law § 125.25 · Arrested Nov 08, 2005 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 100 years (consecutive sentences of 25 years to life per count, four counts total)
Vivian Irizarry, 54, killed November 4, 2005 at 202 Spencer Street in basement of apartment where Spahalski lived. During crack cocaine use, Spahalski struck her head multiple times with blunt object and strangled her with twine. He claimed she appeared as a demon and he choked her to end her suffering. Body found naked except for one sock in basement.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Spahlaski, Robert; Robert Bruce Spahalski, Serial Killer; People v. Spahalski 2017 Appellate Decision
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
4
Victims convicted
4
Victims confessed
4
Victims suspected
Active years
1990–2005
Victim profile
Young women, Acquaintances, Sex workers, Partners or spouses
Stated motive
Anger or revenge, Thrill
Range from home
local
Confessed
Yes
Cooperated with investigators
Yes
Education
high school
Marital history
Never married
Children
0
Agencies
Law enforcement, prosecutors and corrections agencies the records show dealing with this person. An investigator working a case with a possible connection can start here.
Webster Police Department · NY
Investigated murder of Charles Grande in October 1991; arrested Spahalski; reopened case as cold case
Source: Murderpedia
Rochester Police Department · NY
Investigated murders of Moraine Armstrong, Adrian Berger, and Vivian Irizarry; received Spahalski's voluntary confession in 2005
Great Meadow Correctional Facility · NY
Current incarceration for four murder convictions; sentenced to 100 years in 2006
Monroe County District Attorney's Office · NY
Prosecuted all four murder convictions (1990-2005 murders)
Source: Murderpedia, Oxygen Media
New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision · NY
Oversees state prison system including Attica, Great Meadow facilities
Attica Correctional Facility · NY
Prior incarcerations for theft (1981-1984, 1987-1989)
Monroe County Jail · NY
Held Spahalski after initial arrest and during trial proceedings
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
NY
Elmira, New York
approx. 1954 · Birthplace and childhood home
Elmira, New York
approx. until 1972 · Attended school in Elmira where he set fire to curtain and flag in 1971
Elmira, New York
Oct 1971 – Sep 1975 · Served 15 weekends jail for unauthorized vehicle use; sentenced to up to five years for theft from music store
City of Auburn, New York
approx. 1976 – Nov 1979 · Auburn Correctional Facility for third-degree burglary conviction; served two to five years
Rochester, New York
approx. Aug 04, 1980 – 1981 · Hired by city of Rochester as mechanic's helper; fired for not showing up for work after one year when arrested for coin collection theft
Village of Attica, New York
Sep 01, 1984 – Dec 26, 1984 · Attica Correctional Facility for theft of $15,000 coin collection; served two to five years
Rochester, New York
approx. Dec 26, 1984 – Nov 2005 · Moved to Rochester after release from prison in 1984 and remained there through his arrest in 2005; lived at various locations including Lake Avenue and Spencer Street
Village of Attica, New York
Jul 29, 1987 – Feb 08, 1989 · Attica Correctional Facility for attempted burglary in Monroe County
Great River, New York
Dec 21, 2006 – Nov 06, 2024 · Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Comstock, Washington County for 100-year sentence; facility closed November 6, 2024 and inmates transferred
Known Vehicles
Vehicles and approximate dates of ownership or use, as reported in the cited records. A photo next to a vehicle is the vehicle itself as published.
1980 Unknown Plymouth Volare – Charles Grande's 1980 Plymouth Volare driven by Spahalski after Grande's murder
approx. Oct 1991 – Oct 1991
Spahalski was stopped by police driving this vehicle while impersonating Charles Grande; presented Grande's driver's license to officer
Timeline
Dec 12, 1954
Robert Bruce Spahalski born in Elmira, New York.
Jul 1971
Charged with unauthorized use of motor vehicle after being stopped by police in Elmira at age 15.
Aug 1971
Charged with felony arson after setting fire to stage curtain and flag at Elmira school at age 15.
Oct 1971
Pleads guilty to unauthorized use of stolen vehicle; ordered to serve 15 weekends in jail.
Dec 1971
Pleads guilty to criminal trespass charge after returning to Elmira business knowing he was not allowed on premises.
Jul 1973
Found guilty of taking approximately $3,000 in cash and equipment from music store in Elmira; sentenced to up to five years in prison.
Sep 1975
Released from prison after serving sentence for music store theft.
Jul 1976
Charged with third-degree burglary after breaking into high school in Elmira; convicted and sentenced to two to five years at Auburn Correctional Facility.
Nov 1979
Released from Auburn Correctional Facility.
Aug 04, 1980
Hired by city of Rochester as mechanic's helper.
Jul 1981
Charged with theft along with accomplice Roger E. Saxbury after stealing coin collection valued at $15,000.
Aug 1981
Pleads guilty to stealing coin collection; sentenced to two to five years at Attica Correctional Facility.
Sep 01, 1984
Begins prison term in Attica for theft of coin collection.
Dec 26, 1984
Released from prison and moved to Rochester, New York.
Jul 29, 1987
Enters state prison in Attica after being convicted of attempted burglary in Monroe County.
Feb 08, 1989
Released from prison.
Dec 31, 1990
Murders Moraine Armstrong, 24, by strangling her with electrical cord in her Rochester apartment at 509 Lake Avenue.
Jul 21, 1991
Murders Adrian Berger, 35, his girlfriend, by strangulation in her Rochester apartment on Emerson Street.
Sep 1991
Spahalski and another man arrested in Gates on charges of robbing Salvation Army employee at gunpoint.
Oct 02, 1991
Murders Charles Grande, 40, by beating him to death with hammer in Webster; drives Grande's car while impersonating him before being stopped by police.
Dec 1991
Robbery-related charges dismissed after grand jury declines to indict Spahalski.
Aug 1992
Identified as man driving Charles Grande's car and charged with criminal impersonation; acquitted at trial.
Nov 04, 2005
Murders Vivian Irizarry, 54, by beating and strangling her in basement of 202 Spencer Street, Rochester.
Nov 08, 2005
Walks into Rochester Public Safety Building and confesses to killing Vivian Irizarry and three prior murders.
Nov 09, 2005
Vivian Irizarry's body found in basement of apartment building where Spahalski lived.
Nov 09, 2005
Spahalski charged with murder of Irizarry as well as 1991 murder of Charles Grande.
Nov 02, 2006
Murder trial begins for Spahalski.
Nov 21, 2006
Jury finds Spahalski guilty of all charges: four counts of second-degree intentional murder plus one count of felony murder while committing robbery.
Dec 12, 2006
Sentencing hearing held and Spahalski sentenced to 100 years in prison (25 years to life per count, consecutive).
Dec 21, 2006
Spahalski begins prison sentence at Great Meadow Correctional Facility.
Jun 09, 2017
New York Appellate Division, Fourth Department unanimously affirms conviction and sentence.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
News report · Oxygen Media ·
Twin Murderers Robert And Stephen Spahalski Served Time Together“Robert was convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life for each murder, with each sentence to run consecutively”
News report · NEWS10 ·
Great Meadow Corrections permanently closed“Wednesday, November 6, 2024, is the day Great Meadow Correctional Facility closed its gates for good”
News report · Crime + Investigation ·
The killer who turned himself in 15 years later“In November 2005, Robert Spahalski walked into a police station in Rochester, New York and admitted to four murders of his own accord”
Court record · Appellate Division, Fourth Department, New York ·
People v. Spahalski 2017 Appellate Decision“Convicted upon a jury verdict of five counts of murder in the second degree arising from four homicides”
Other government record · Radford University, Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Spahlaski, Robert“Robert Spahalski 'Bruce' biography with timeline of arrests, convictions, and murders compiled by researchers Miller and Maloney”
News report · Crime Library ·
Genetic Violence: Robert and Stephen Spahalski“Spahalski was sentenced to 100 years in prison”
Other · Murderpedia ·
Robert Spahalski“A street hustler was convicted Monday of strangling two women and bludgeoning a businessman in a series of drug-fueled slayings”
Other · 2nd Sight Magazine ·
Robert Bruce Spahalski - 2nd Sight Magazine“Those who knew him say he had a long-term drug habit and was HIV-positive”
Other · Crime Solvers Central ·
Robert Bruce Spahalski, Serial Killer“On November 8, 2005, Robert Bruce Spahalski walked into the Rochester police department and confessed to the murder of Vivian Irizarry”
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