Naman Shrestha
In the episode titled ‘The Blood on My Brother’s Hands’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Evil Lives Here,’ the primary focus is on the gruesome killing of a 35-year-old woman named Robin Brown. As the detectives investigate the homicide through several twists and turns, they uncover several dark truths about the case. Thanks to the evidence they found at the crime scene, they eventually managed to apprehend the perpetrator and interview him. The documentary delves deep into the life of the killer and how he descended into darkness, starting from his teenage days.
Robin Brown’s Remains Were Found Outside an Under-Construction Property
Born around 1970, Robin Renee Brown grew up to reportedly become a sex worker and resided in Columbus, Ohio. Known for being a compassionate and kind soul, she had a lot to look forward to. Unfortunately, fate had other ideas. On the morning of January 27, 2005, the remains of the 35-year-old woman were discovered partially clothed on the front porch of a new property under construction in Fairfield County by a construction worker, who informed the authorities about the situation immediately.
When the investigators rushed to the crime scene, they inspected the house and noticed that there were signs of a struggle, but not of any forced entry. They also determined that Robin died of multiple stab wounds that she endured inside the house, after which she made it to the front porch before passing away. The rest of her clothing was not found in the property. Upon delving deeper into her life, the authorities learned that besides sex work, she also had a criminal history involving other offenses. A homicide investigation was launched in order to get to the bottom of the case and apprehend the perpetrator.
Robin Brown’s Killer Was Also Linked to the Murders of Two More Sex Workers
As part of the investigation, the authorities tried to find out what transpired and what Robin Brown was doing during the final hours of her life by interviewing her friends, family members, and other acquaintances. Since only a limited number of people had access to the house under construction, where she was killed, the detectives also interviewed some of them. Soon, the detectives were led to a man named David Lance Bruce, who had reportedly picked up Robin in January 2005 in Columbus. He then reportedly drove her to the house, where he bound her with blue denim and stabbed her multiple times before fleeing the scene.
At the time of the murder, Lance was out on parole after serving time for gross sexual imposition charges. Upon delving deeper into the suspect’s past life, they learned that he had started getting into trouble with law enforcement in his teenage years for burglaries and other petty crimes. Lance also reportedly used to physically assault his girlfriend frequently, as per his brother Patrick’s account. The brother also claimed that, being the eldest of his four siblings, Lance was given the responsibility of babysitting them while growing up in Columbus. Patrick alleged that he even attempted to smother him at times and pointed a loaded shotgun at their brother’s head while he was sleeping.
According to reports, he was also arrested for raping his brother’s ex-girlfriend, for which he served about two decades behind bars. After serving his time, things began looking up for him as he landed a stable job and started a new family with his wife. It all changed when he killed Robin. At the time, he had been staying with Patrick for a few months before disappearing as the police closed in on him. Finally, on February 18, 2005, David Lance Bruce was arrested for the murder of Robin Brown. Soon, he was also charged with the murders of two other Columbus-based sex workers — 33-year-old Melonie M. Carr and 40-year-old Tawana L. Beane.
Lance Bruce is Currently Incarcerated at an Ohio State Prison
The following year, in 2006, David Lance Bruce stood trial for the gruesome murder of Robin Brown. The prosecution presented several crime scene photos to the jurors, alongside the proof that the defendant was there. Meanwhile, the defense argued that Lance had no involvement in the crime, stating, “My client did not take the life of Robin Renee Brown.” The prosecution also claimed that the DNA evidence found at the site also pointed in the direction of the accused. On the other hand, the defense said, “There are problems with the DNA in this case.”
Ultimately, the killer was convicted of two counts of aggravated murder, one count of murder, one count of kidnapping, and two counts of aggravated robbery in connection with the killing of 35-year-old Robin Brown. Consequently, he was sentenced to life in prison, in addition to ten years, with the possibility of parole after serving three decades behind bars. As for the other murder charges against him, they were dropped after the conviction. As of today, the killer is serving his sentence at Chillicothe Correctional Institution in Chillicothe, Ohio, with his parole eligibility scheduled for April 2035.
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