Suvechha Sarkar
Ollie Lawrence Jr. was at a business conference when he was unable to contact his wife, Robin Warr Lawrence. His world changed completely in November 1994 when he came to know that his beloved wife had been killed in their home in Springfield, Virginia. The episode titled ‘Closing the Cold Case of Robin Lawrence’ of CBS’ ’48 Hours’ focuses on this case and how the tragedy left her loved ones grappling for answers for almost 30 years. It also explores the role modern forensic technology played in uncovering the killer, besides interviews with her loved ones.
Ollie Lawrence’s World Fell Apart When Robin Was Found Dead in Their Home
The parents of Ollie Lawrence Jr. welcomed him into the world sometime around 1952. As he grew up, he gradually worked towards building a commendable career. In adulthood, he crossed paths with his soulmate, Robin Warr, and it didn’t take them long to come closer to one another. In 1989, Ollie and Robin exchanged their vows in front of their family and friends. Together, they settled into their residence at 8600 Reseca Lane in Springfield, Virginia. By 1992, they had given birth to their daughter, Nicole Lawrence. Due to the nature of his job, Ollie frequently had to travel to various locations. According to reports, he traveled to the Bahamas on November 18, 1994, for a business conference.
Around 6:30 pm on that day, Ollie called Robin to check on her and Nicole, thinking his wife was back from work. Police records indicate that when Robin didn’t answer the call, he initially assumed she was busy. However, his concern grew when he again called on the following day, but the calls remained unanswered. Worried, Ollie contacted one of their family friends, Laurie Lindberg, to check on Robin. By November 20, when Laurie checked the house, she reportedly found Nicole alone and noticed a large amount of blood spatter on the bedroom walls. Hence, without wasting any time, she promptly called 911. Unfortunately, officials found Robin dead from multiple stab wounds inside the home.
During the initial investigation, detectives reportedly had suspicions about Ollie. However, according to official records, he was later ruled out as a suspect since he was out of the country during the time of the murder. The case eventually went cold with no viable leads until, in 2019, authorities decided to seek the help of genetic genealogy, which helped them develop a family tree of the killer. Yet, it took them till August 2023 to finally find a match for a man, Stephan Smerk. Although detectives collected his DNA swab from his home in New York, he ultimately turned himself in on September 7, 2023. He was arrested and charged with the murder of Robin. Stephan pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in October 2024 and received a 70-year term in March 2025.
Ollie Lawrence Continues to Honor Robin’s Memory With Nicole by His Side
It took Ollie and Robin’s loved ones about 30 years to see justice being served after a prolonged period of searching for answers. According to a report, while remembering the time when he was considered a suspect, Ollie stated, “I was always disappointed in the detectives because they seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time as me as a suspect. I recognize and respect the fact they needed to rule me out. But I was out of the country and could prove it.” When Stephan was finally arrested, Ollie explained that he was “flabbergasted” upon learning about it.
After Stephan was sentenced in March 2025, during an interview, Ollie said, “It’s been 30 years of unanswered questions, not knowing and having to endure the trauma that comes with that.” He continued, “The Warr and Lawrence family is grateful that justice has finally been done for the murder of our beloved Robin.” While sharing his grief about the loss, Ollie expressed, “While nothing will bring our Robin back, knowing that justice has finally been served may bring us some measure of peace.” Through it all, Nicole remained steadfast beside her father, grieving her mother’s loss. Before Ollie began his long journey of fighting for justice, he was laying the foundation for an impressive professional trajectory.
When Robin passed away in 1994, Ollie was working as the Vice President for Human Resources at USAir. However, when tragedy struck their family, he moved out of their residence in Virginia with Nicole by April 1995 and moved to Alexandria, Virginia. A report stated that around 2011, he finally found a second chance at love and remarried. By September 2023, Ollie had stepped back from his career. Having retired, he is reported to have settled down in the south of France. However, he has chosen to stay away from the spotlight and lead a quiet life. Deep down, he still carries the pain of losing Robin in his heart. Yet, with his partner and daughter, Nicole, by his side, Ollie has refused to let the horrific experience define his life.
Read More: Mary Warr Cowans: Where is Robin Lawrence’s Sister Now?
