He came to Alaska at the head of a sprawling, picturesque clan -- the last true wilderness family, as he put it when he battled the local park rangers. Robert Hale presented himself as a pious, Scripture-thumbing patriarch who just wanted to raise his 15 children far from the sin and temptations of the modern world. He settled in the mountains near McCarthy and called himself Papa Pilgrim.
Robert Hale, the 67-year-old wilderness patriarch who found fame and notoriety in Alaska as Papa Pilgrim, died Saturday night at the Anchorage Correctional Complex, the state Department of Corrections said.
Court refuses Hale land dispute
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear the case of the Hale family and their feud with the federal government over access to their land inside the nation's largest national park.
After hellish abuse, one Hale daughter fled from 'Heaven'
The spark plugs had been removed. Papa Pilgrim headed down the mountain valley at first light toward McCarthy to pick up a barrel of fuel. He would be back before dark. He took the last good snowmachine.
High court considers access suit
Robert Hale may be going to prison, but his lawsuit is going to the Supreme Court.
Hale clan details abuse by patriarch
The children of Robert Hale finally got the chance Monday to do something they'd waited for their whole lives: talk back to their father.
Robert Hale sentenced to 14 years, denies assaulting kids
For three hours Tuesday, Robert Hale blamed his wife and family for his troubles, denied ever assaulting his children, and said he "gave corrections" only out of biblical duty and a father's love.
Papa Pilgrim sentencing rescheduled for Nov. 5
Sentencing for Robert Hale, the wilderness Christian patriarch sometimes known as Papa Pilgrim, has been rescheduled for Nov. 5 in Anchorage.
Robert Hale, known to most Alaskans as "Papa Pilgrim," the Christian patriarch of a large wilderness family, showed up Thursday morning in an Anchorage courtroom with plans to withdraw his no-contest plea to charges of rape, kidnapping and inces
Robert Hale, known to most Alaskans as "Papa Pilgrim," the Christian patriarch of a large wilderness family, showed up Thursday morning in an Anchorage courtroom with plans to withdraw his no-contest plea to charges of rape, kidnapping and inces
Hale wants to change plea and go to trial
Robert Hale, the wilderness patriarch who calls himself Papa Pilgrim, wants to change his no-contest plea and face trial after all on charges of rape, kidnapping and incest.
Hale wants to change plea and go to trial
Robert Hale, the wilderness patriarch who calls himself Papa Pilgrim, wants to change his no-contest plea and face trial after all on charges of rape, kidnapping and incest.
Robert Hale, the patriarch of the big McCarthy-area homesteading family known as the Pilgrims, pleaded no contest to consolidated counts of rape, incest and coercion involving one of his daughters.
Robert Hale pleaded no contest Tuesday to one count each of rape, incest and coercion stemming from incidents involving one of his daughters.
Robert Hale, the patriarch of the big McCarthy-area homesteading family known as the Pilgrims, pleaded no contest to consolidated counts of rape, incest and coercion involving one of his daughters.
Robert Hale pleaded no contest Tuesday to one count each of rape, incest and coercion stemming from incidents involving one of his daughters.
Papa is in jail. The children have left the name "Pilgrim" behind. They have also left, for now, the remote mining camp in the Wrangell Mountains where they once fought a high-profile access battle against the National Park Service.
Papa is in jail. The children have left the name "Pilgrim" behind. They have also left, for now, the remote mining camp in the Wrangell Mountains where they once fought a high-profile access battle against the National Park Service.
Hale says he'll plead no contest to incest
After more than a year in jail awaiting trial on charges of rape, assault and incest, the man known as Papa Pilgrim says he is ready to plead no contest and accept punishment.
Hale says he'll plead no contest to incest
After more than a year in jail awaiting trial on charges of rape, assault and incest, the man known as Papa Pilgrim says he is ready to plead no contest and accept punishment.
Pilgrim appears in court (10-07-2005)
Hale, who calls himself Papa Pilgrim, was the head of a 17-member family living in the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. He is now in the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility, charged with 30 felony counts of rape, assault and incest involving one of his da
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