A New York software program engineer pleaded responsible on Friday to killing a Virginia mom 30 years in the past as prosecutors learn his chilling confession by which he ominously mused he “most likely can be a serial killer” if he by no means bought married.
Stephen Smerk, 52, admitted to fatally stabbing 37-year-old Robin Lawrence, who he focused at random in her Springfield house in November 1994 whereas her 2-year-old daughter was additionally inside.
Smerk, then 22, was stationed at Fort Myer in Arlington for his first 12 months within the Military when he drove from the bottom intent on killing anybody he got here throughout.
“It wouldn’t have mattered if there have been 50 folks in that home,” Deputy Commonwealth’s Lawyer Kelsey Gill stated. “He got down to kill somebody.”
Gill added that Smerk drove as far-off from the barracks to a location the place he felt snug sufficient to kill, in accordance with WUSA9.
The software program engineer was taken into custody in Niskayuna in upstate New York in September 2023 after DNA proof matched him to the homicide.
Gill learn a part of his disturbing confession video in court docket Friday.
“[Smerk] stated, ‘I’ve not killed anybody else, however I may very well be a serial killer,’” the prosecutor learn.
In the identical confession video, Smerk added that he “lower [Lawrence] up fairly good.”
He described stabbing her twice — nevertheless Lawrence was discovered with 49 whole stab wounds, WUSA9 reported.
“If not for my spouse and children, I most likely can be a serial killer,” Smerk stated at one level.
The gut-churning confession was tough for Lawrence’s relations to listen to.
“I can’t grapple with that or something that he did that he occurred to select my sister’s home to go in and take her life for no motive apart from what was in his head.” Mary Cowans, Lawrence’s sister, advised the outlet.
“He seems to be like he doesn’t have a soul,” stated Lauren Ovans, Lawrence’s niece.
Lawrence’s physique was discovered days after the killing by a buddy of the household after Lawrence’s husband requested for a wellness test whereas he was away on a enterprise journey.
The buddy testified that she discovered the display lower out from a big again window at Lawrence’s house.
When the buddy bought inside, Lawrence’s shocked toddler crawled over to her in dirty diapers.
The buddy described seeing blood splattered on the bed room partitions, and working to a neighbor’s home to name police.
When police arrived, they discovered Lawrence face down subsequent to her mattress with a pillow between her legs, the detective assigned to the case testified. He recalled wounds to her head, face and neck.
Lawrence’s husband, who lives in France, was current for the listening to by way of video convention name, WUSA9 reported.
“It blew our household aside and for a lot of, a few years, it was very tough and arduous for all of us,” Cowans stated. “Not less than he’s not on the streets, not a hazard to another household or particular person and we’ll transfer on.”
Smerk is scheduled to be sentenced on March 7. He may resist 70 years in jail, per his plea deal.
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