UPDATE: In a shocking development, Stephan Smerk, a 52-year-old father from Niskayuna, New York, has confessed to the cold case murder of Robin Warr Lawrence, which occurred nearly 30 years ago in Springfield, Virginia. Authorities confirmed the confession during an interrogation on September 7, 2023, marking a significant breakthrough in a case that has haunted the Lawrence family for decades.
Detective Melissa Wallace from the Fairfax County Police described her disbelief when Smerk voluntarily approached the police station to turn himself in. “He says, I’m at the police department to turn myself in,” Wallace recounted. The gravity of this confession sent adrenaline coursing through her, realizing it could finally close the long-standing investigation into Robin’s brutal murder.
Robin Warr Lawrence was an artist and mother who was killed in her home in 1994. Her two-year-old daughter, Nicole, roamed the house alone for two days before her mother’s body was discovered. The chilling circumstances left her family with unanswered questions for nearly three decades. “Who would do such a thing? Why?” questioned Robin’s sister, Mary Warr Cowans, reflecting on the fear that surrounded the family during those years.
The investigation had stalled for years despite DNA evidence found at the crime scene. Attempts to match the DNA in CODIS, the FBI’s national database, yielded no results. However, advancements in technology led to a breakthrough through a process called genetic genealogy, which connects suspects to their relatives. Although Parabon NanoLabs initially deemed the case unsolvable, volunteer Liz from the Fairfax County Police Department persevered for three years, ultimately identifying Smerk as a suspect.
When detectives approached Smerk for DNA collection, he showed no signs of alarm or recognition, described as “stone-faced” during their encounter. After voluntarily providing a sample, the detectives received the call that Smerk had confessed to the murder. “I knew that I was going to kill somebody,” he told detectives, explaining that he had no specific target that night but acted on violent impulses.
In a startling admission, Smerk referred to himself as “a serial killer who’s only killed once.” This declaration prompted reactions from experts, including former FBI profiler Mary Ellen O’Toole, who explained that some individuals with such compulsions may only kill once but continue to harbor dangerous impulses. “The compulsions don’t go away,” O’Toole noted, raising concerns about Smerk’s potential threat level.
Smerk expressed no remorse during his confession, stating, “I don’t feel anything for the family.” He was subsequently sentenced to 70 years in prison and will be eligible for parole in 2037, when he is 65 years old. Robin’s family is relieved to finally have closure but acknowledges the long-lasting impact of his actions. “It helped to know that a person was found and being held responsible,” Warr Cowans said, “but it doesn’t bring her back.”
The emotional toll on Robin’s family has been profound, with Warr Cowans revealing how fear plagued her daily life. “I actually felt afraid at home, in my bed,” she shared, reflecting on the terror of not knowing who could commit such a horrific act. Detective Long added, “From a community perspective, that’s like your worst nightmare.”
The confession of Stephan Smerk not only brings closure to a grieving family but also highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in solving cold cases. As this story develops, it serves as a chilling reminder of the impacts of unresolved crimes on victims’ families and communities alike.