Stephan Smerk, 53, from Niskayuna, has been sentenced to 70 years in prison for the 1994 cold case murder of Robin Warr Lawrence in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Smerk, at the time an Army soldier stationed at what is now Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, VA, left the base with the intention of killing someone, though he didn’t know who, according to his confession. Smerk broke into 37-year-old Robin Lawrence’s home, whom he didn’t know, and stabbed her 49 times, while her 2-year-old daughter was in the house.
Despite the brutal crime, the case remained unsolved for nearly three decades. However, DNA samples collected from the scene eventually led to the breakthrough. Through forensic genealogy, authorities were able to trace the DNA back to Smerk.
In September 2023, police approached Smerk at his Niskayuna home for a DNA sample, and after several hours, he turned himself in and confessed to the crime. Smerk pled guilty to first-degree murder on October 4, 2024.
The sentence of 70 years brings some closure to the long-unsolved case. The community and the family of Robin Lawrence are hopeful that this will serve as a reminder of the power of modern forensic techniques in solving long-dormant cases.
