Suvechha Sarkar
In May 2017, the disappearance of 22-year-old Akia Shawnta Eggleston from Baltimore, Maryland, left several unanswered questions. She was 8 months pregnant and was eagerly preparing to welcome her baby boy into the world. So, when she went missing just four days before the baby shower, it left her family and friends completely devastated. The case comes into focus in the episode titled ‘The Day Akia Disappeared’ of NBC’s ‘Dateline.’ It retraces the investigation that followed and how it was revealed that her then-boyfriend, Michael Robertson, was responsible for her death. It also features interviews with her loved ones and the officials who helped bring justice.
Michael Robertson Was in a Relationship With Akia Eggleston When She Went Missing
Michael Robertson was born sometime in December 1980. According to the investigators on the show, over the course of his life, he had several children with different girlfriends. In May 2017, he was reportedly in a relationship with Akia Shawnta Eggleston, who was then eight months pregnant. Reports state that Akia claimed Michael was the father of her unborn child. Things took a turn when her family members were unable to contact her or find her on May 7, 2017. Once the missing person investigation was launched, officials discovered that none of Akia’s family members had spoken to her for several days. Shortly after, they found the last known CCTV footage of Akia at a bank on May 3, 2017. Additionally, investigative reports indicate that her Facebook activity stopped on the afternoon of May 3.
When investigators reportedly learned from Akia’s family and friends that she was dating Michael at the time of her disappearance, he was brought in for questioning. According to police records, he claimed that he and Akia were not in an exclusive relationship, and hence, when he heard she was pregnant, allegedly with his child, he didn’t want to participate. In his statements, Michael further claimed that she had broken up with him six days before her baby shower, which was held on May 7. Reports state that he alleged Akia’s best friend, Stephen Foster, was obsessed with her and might be responsible for her death. The detectives reportedly learned that Stephen had access to Akia’s Gmail and Facebook accounts, as well as a key to her house. When Stephen was interrogated, he reportedly admitted visiting Akia’s home before the baby shower on May 5.
Overwhelming Amount of Circumstantial Evidence Led to Michael’s Arrest
According to official records, Stephen had found that Akia’s belongings were all gone, but he allegedly didn’t think it was alarming enough to report to 911. He reportedly informed them that he was at work on May 3. As per court records, in September 2017, they discovered that Akia’s relationship with Michael was actually an affair, while he was still with a woman named Hali Pomeroy. It turned out that Michael and Hali had a child together and were expecting another one. Further investigation of Akia’s Facebook revealed that Hali had called her a “homewrecker.” When Hali was questioned, she admitted not liking Akia but denied having any involvement.
The momentum of the case eventually stalled until further reports regarding Akia’s cell phone records surfaced in 2021. According to investigative reports, by then, Akia’s missing case was classified as a homicide, and detectives narrowed down the time of her disappearance to around 5:22 pm using her cell phone data. The digital forensic report eliminated Stephen and Hali as suspects but revealed that around 5:22 pm, Michael was present at Akia’s home. Official records indicate that Michael and Akia’s cellphones also moved together away from her home after that time. Investigators learned that Akia had ordered a Lyft ride for Michael to bring him to her house and had even texted her friends about moving in with Michael.
That didn’t match what Michael said to the police about their breakup during his first interview. Additionally, later that night, Michael reportedly conducted several Google searches, including “where does Baltimore City trash go when picked up” and “Baltimore City landfill.” According to police reports, Michael had changed his phone number before Akia was reported missing. When he was interrogated again, he admitted going to Akia’s house that day. He claimed in his statement that they fought because she asked him to choose between her and Hali. However, he insisted that he had nothing to do with her disappearance. Ultimately, he was arrested on February 2, 2022, in Muskegon, Michigan, and charged with two counts of first-degree murder of Akia and her unborn son.
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Michael Robertson is Currently Serving His Sentence at a State Prison Facility
The jury trial of Michael Robertson began in July 2023, during which the prosecution built its case based on the overwhelming circumstantial evidence. They claimed that on May 3, 2017, Michael had gotten into a fight with Akia over his relationship with Hali and killed her during that time. The prosecution believed that he disposed of her remains in a nearby dumpster and then placed all of her possessions on top of her to conceal her remains. They reportedly also presented the digital forensic reports before the court. On the other hand, the defense argued that since Akia’s remains were not discovered, there was a possibility she might be alive. They contended that there was no evidence to suggest that a crime had been committed or that Michael was involved in it.
Ultimately, after two days of deliberation, the jury found Michael guilty of two counts of first-degree murder on July 27, 2023. He was sentenced to two consecutive life terms on October 25, 2023. He later appealed his judgment, where the defense claimed that the prosecution’s “rebuttal comments” during the closing argument were misleading and prejudicial, specifically regarding jurors’ notes and the trial testimony of Stephen Foster. The Appellate Court eventually affirmed that the comments didn’t mislead the jury, thus upholding his judgment on March 7, 2025. As of writing, Michael is incarcerated at the Western Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Maryland.
