While working at Mi-T-Fine Car Wash in Irving, Robert Harris masturbated in front of a female customer and was fired from the job he had held for about ten months.

Four days later, he borrowed a car from a friend, borrowed a handgun from another friend, then drove to the carwash on a Monday morning before it opened. He forced manager Dennis Lee, assistant manager Augustin Villasenor, and cashier Rhoda Wheeler into the office. He instructed Wheeler to open the safe. She complied and gave him the cash. Harris then forced all three victims to the floor and shot each of them in the back of the head at close range. He also slit Lee’s throat.

Before Harris could leave, three other employees arrived for work. Harris forced them to kneel on the floor of the lobby and shot each of them in the back of the head at close range. Benjamin Villasenor, 32, and Roberto Jimenez, 15, died. The third victim survived but was left permanently disabled. Harris returned the vehicle to his friend and told him he discovered some bodies at the car wash.

Harris then purchased some new clothing, checked into a motel, and sent another friend to purchase a gold cross necklace for him. Harris made about $4,000 in the robbery. The defense characterized the murders as an immediate reaction to provocation, after one of his former co-workers called him a “pervert”.

Harris had three previous convictions for burglary of a building. He was sentenced to five years in prison on two counts in May 1991 and eight years on a third count in June 1991. He was paroled in May 1999 and discharged in June. Harris also had a history of assault and battery and drug dealing. Testimony at Harris’s punishment hearing indicated that on the day he was arrested for the car wash murders, he was planning to drive to Florida to kill an old girlfriend.

Mi-T-Fine Carwash

Crime Scene Public Drive up

Site of the Mi-T-Fine Car Wash murders.

Image Taken From: 600 N MacArthur Blvd, Irving, TX 75061, USA

Latitude: 32.82022095 Longitude: -96.95903015

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We decided to get VeroniCAR a wash and thought this location would be the perfect spot. Overall, they done a pretty good job. However, it started to rain just as we were about to exit.

The Victims

Benjamin and Agustin Villasenor

Dennis Lee

Grave / Memorial Public Easy walk

Dennis Lee, Agustin Villasenor, and Benjamin Villasenor are buried at Oak Grove Memorial Park.

Image Taken From: Oak Grove Memorial Park, Irving, TX 75060, USA

Latitude: 32.809302 Longitude: -96.9292

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Roberto Jiminez Jr

Roberto Jimenez’s body was flown to Mexico a short time after his death. It is reported that he is buried at Panteon Minicipal de San Martin Texmelucan.

Murder of Sandy Estes Scott

Sandy Estes Scott, and 37 year old woman was last seen at this gas station at around 9:45 PM on November, 29, 1999. Robert Harris confessed to her murder a short time after being arrested for the Mi-T-Fine shootings. Harris stated that he believed that the victim had stole $200 from him.

VeroniCAR having a drink at the location where Sandra Estes Scott was last seen

Last Seen / Disappearance Site Public Drive up

Gas station where Sandra Estes Scott was last seen.

Image Taken From: Rock Island Road, Irving, TX 75061, USA

Latitude: 32.8144455 Longitude: -96.9604187

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Location of Body

Vehicle / Evidence Recovery Public Drive up

Location where Sandy Estes Scott's body was found.

Image Taken From: Pollock Place, Irving, TX 75060, USA

Latitude: 32.77787399 Longitude: -96.97811127

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Grave / Memorial Public Easy walk

Sandy Estes Scott is buried at Oak Grove Memorial Park.

Image Taken From: Oak Grove Memorial Park, Irving, TX 75060, USA

Latitude: 32.809302 Longitude: -96.9292

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Execution of Robert Harris

The execution of Robert Harris was scheduled for September, 20, 2012 at the Huntsville Unit of the Texas State Prison. In his final statement, Harris expressed love and comfort to his brother and three friends who were present at his execution. “I’m going home. I’m going home,” he said. He did not look towards the friends and relatives of his victims, who were observing from another room. “Don’t worry about me,” he said. “I’ll be fine. God bless, and thank you to the Texas Rangers.