Robert N. Ford was born in Ray County, Missouri to James Thomas Ford and his wife Mary Bruin. As a young man, he became an admirer of Jesse James for his war record and his daring career in crime. In 1880 he finally managed to meet James. Ford's brother Charles is believed to have taken part in the James gang's Blue Cut train robbery near Glendale, Missouri on September 7, 1881. In November 1881, James moved his family to St.Joseph. He intended to give up crime, but first wanted to stage one last robbery.

   
The James gang by now had been greatly reduced in number. James invited Charles and Robert Ford to take part in the robbery of the Platte City Bank. The Ford brothers passed themselves off in St. Joseph as cousins of James, though they were in fact unrelated. James allowed them to move into his home to keep him better protected.

Unfortunately for James, the Ford brothers had already decided not to take part in the robbery, but to collect the $10,000 bounty placed on James by Missouri Governor Thomas T. Crittenden. Robert Ford had been arrested for killing Jesse James' cousin Wood Hite, another gang member. Crittenden promised him a pardon if he would also kill Jesse James.

On April 3, 1882, after eating breakfast, the Fords and Jameses went into the living room. Before sitting down, James noticed a dusty picture on the wall and stood on a chair to clean it. James was not wearing his guns and Ford took advantage of the opportunity and shot James in the back of the head.

Robert Ford wired the governor to claim his reward. He then turned himself in to the law, but was dismayed to find he was charged with first degree murder. The Ford brothers were tried and convicted. They were sentenced to death by hanging, but within two hours were granted a full pardon by the Governor of Missouri. Ford then received a portion of the reward money.

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