A New York man confessed to the 1994 “heinous” murder of a Virginia mother – whom he brutally stabbed to death and then left her toddler to fend for herself for days.
Stephen Smerk, 51, of Niskayuna, was arrested after DNA evidence matched him to the slaying of 37-year-old Robin Lawrence, who was stabbed multiple times in his Springfield home on Nov. 20, 1994, while his 2-year-old daughter was also inside, said officials to reporters Monday.
The murder was discovered days later by a family friend after Lawrence’s husband requested a medical check-up while he was away on a business trip, with the friend finding the mother’s body covered in blood and the toddler dehydrated and crawling in a dirty diaper.
“As far as a motive, the typical motive that we normally associate with murder, disputes, domestic violence, none of that was at play here,” said Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis.
“He picked it at random and it was a vile, despicable scene.”
Detectives were unable to crack the case for nearly three decades until DNA testing with the Parabon company led them to the suspect’s family tree in 2019, with a three-year investigation narrowing it down to Smerk.
Stephen Smerk, 51, was arrested for the 1994 murder of Robin Lawrence.FCPD
Robin Lawrence, 37, was stabbed multiple times inside her Virginia home while her husband was away on business.FCPD
Smerk was an active duty military man who was stationed in Fort Meyers at the time of the murder.
When police went to Smerk’s home in New York to take a DNA sample, the suspect agreed. But before the detectives leave the state, Smerk calls them to confess to Lawrence’s murder.
He was charged with second-degree murder and is awaiting extradition to Virginia.
DNA testing in 2019 pointed police to Smerk’s family tree, where they narrowed it down to Niskayuna residents. FCPD
Lauren Ovans, Lawrence’s cousin, said in a brief statement that her family was grateful to finally get justice for her slain mother.
“We as a family … would like to thank the Fairfax and Niskayuna police departments for their efforts in this case,” he said. “We look forward to learning more about the process and next steps.”
Lawrence’s husband, Ollie, said he almost fell over when he learned that an arrest had finally been made for his wife’s murder.
Lauren Ovans, Lawrence’s cousin, thanked the police for their work over the past three decades. YouTube/@fairfaxcountypolice
“I was amazed. You could probably knock me down with a feather,” he told the Washington Post while living in retirement in France.
“After so long, you have hope, but you also wonder: ‘Are they really looking for someone after 29 years?’”
Although he said the success brought back the feelings of sadness and loss his family has experienced over the years, he hopes they can get the closure that has eluded them for decades.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
