Robert George Colvert, recently discharged from the U.S. Navy from the aircraft carrier, USS Shangri-La, CVA-38, returned to his home state of Nebraska. While working as a service station attendant in Lincoln late one night, he refused to sell a stuffed animal on credit to Charles Starkweather. Starkweather returned several times during the night to purchase small items, then finally brandishing a shotgun, forced Colvert to hand over $100, then drove Colvert to a remote area. After Colvert was injured during a struggle over the gun, Starkweather killed him with a shot to the head. During the month of Jan 1958, Starkweather and his 14 year old girlfriend Caril Ann Fugate killed 10 more people in Nebraska and Wyoming.

Starkweather and Fugate were later captured in Douglas, Wyo. For her part in the murders, Fugate was sentenced to 17 1/2 years in prison and Starkweather was executed by electric chair at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln, Neb. at 12:a.m. on June 25, 1959.

Robert "Bobby" Colvert was buried in the Beaver Crossing cemetery about 25 miles west of Lincoln, Nebraska near his father and mother.

Note: From Milton A. Stephens, SM1, USNR-Ret., I reported aboard the Shangri-La in June of 1958, was assigned to the Signalman quarters, and given an empty bunk. Later I was told I was sleeping in a dead man's bunk. My shipmates then told me about the death of Bobby Colvert. His wife had sent the Signal Gang a letter informing them of his last moments of his life. I never knew Bobby Colvert, but during the month of Sep 2013, I visited the Beaver Crossing Cemetery and paid my respects to our departed shipmate and his friends of those I knew that were still aboard the Shangri-La when I reported aboard.