New York Man Admits to Virginia Cold Case Murder as ‘Serial Killer’

In a shocking development, a New York man has confessed to a murder that remained unsolved for nearly three decades. Stephan Smerk, a 52-year-old father from Niskayuna, New York, turned himself in on September 7, 2023, admitting to the 1994 cold case murder of Robin Warr Lawrence in Springfield, Virginia.

Details of the Case

Lawrence, an artist and mother, was brutally murdered in her home in 1994. At the time, her 2-year-old daughter, Nicole, wandered the house for two days before the body was discovered. This tragedy left her family devastated and unanswered questions lingered for 30 years.

Investigative Breakthrough

For years, detectives struggled to identify Lawrence’s killer. DNA evidence collected at the crime scene—a blood sample found on a washcloth—yielded no results in the FBI’s national database, CODIS. New investigative techniques, particularly genetic genealogy, offered a glimmer of hope.

• Genetic genealogy utilizes DNA to trace family connections, identifying potential suspects.
• Despite initial doubts about solvability, a volunteer continued assessing the evidence for three years.
• Stephan Smerk emerged as a suspect, having lived in Virginia during the time of the murder.

Confession and Arrest

When detectives approached Smerk, he appeared unphased and cooperatively provided a DNA sample. Shortly thereafter, he confessed to the murder, claiming he had a compulsion to kill. Smerk stated he had planned to kill someone that night, though he did not know who it would be.

Smerk’s Profile and Sentencing

Aligning with the characteristics often attributed to serial killers, Smerk revealed he struggled with violent impulses. Nonetheless, he maintained that he had only killed once. He expressed no remorse for his actions, stating that he only regretted the impact on his personal freedom. In a court hearing, Smerk pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 70 years in prison, with eligibility for parole in 2037.

Impact on Victim’s Family

The revelation has brought a mix of closure and lingering pain to Lawrence’s family. Mary Warr Cowans, Lawrence’s sister, articulated the ongoing psychological toll of the crime, stating, “It helped to know that a person was found and being held responsible, but it doesn’t help and it doesn’t bring her back.”

The family continues to grapple with the trauma of living in fear and the loss of their loved one. The case underscores a grim reality: the specter of violence can remain hidden in communities for years before unfolding devastating truths are finally revealed.