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Stephen Smerk has pleaded guilty to the 1994 murder of Robin Lawrence, a 37-year-old mother from Springfield, Virginia, bringing closure to her family after three decades.Prosecutors say in his confession to detectives, 52-year-old Smerk said, "I cut her up pretty good."He was talking about murdering Lawrence, who was found next to her bed in her Springfield home with 49 stab wounds.Thirty years after her murder, Smerk finally admitted he was guilty."He looks like he doesn't have a soul," said Lauren Ovans, the victim's niece.On Friday, Lawrence's family watched him plead guilty to first-degree murder.Smerk was in Arlington in 1994 in his first year with the Army.The commonwealth says he wanted to drive far enough from his barracks just to kill.He chose Lawrence's home at random, broke in, and killed the woman while her two-year-old daughter was also in the home."This was the type of crime that shocks a community," said Steve Descano, Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney.A Northern Virginia lab used a DNA database to create suspect sketches.The investigation led Fairfax County cold case detectives to upstate New York last year where Smerk worked as a software engineer."I've not killed anyone else, if not for my wife and kids, I probably would be a serial killer," Smerk admitted during his interview.Lawrence's sister was in the courtroom."I can't grapple with that or anything of what he did. That he just happened to pick my sister's house and go in and take her life for no reason other than what was in his head," said Mary Cowans, the victim's sister.Watch the video above for more on this story.
Stephen Smerk has pleaded guilty to the 1994 murder of Robin Lawrence, a 37-year-old mother from Springfield, Virginia, bringing closure to her family after three decades.
Prosecutors say in his confession to detectives, 52-year-old Smerk said, "I cut her up pretty good."
He was talking about murdering Lawrence, who was found next to her bed in her Springfield home with 49 stab wounds.
Thirty years after her murder, Smerk finally admitted he was guilty.
"He looks like he doesn't have a soul," said Lauren Ovans, the victim's niece.
On Friday, Lawrence's family watched him plead guilty to first-degree murder.
Smerk was in Arlington in 1994 in his first year with the Army.
The commonwealth says he wanted to drive far enough from his barracks just to kill.
He chose Lawrence's home at random, broke in, and killed the woman while her two-year-old daughter was also in the home.
"This was the type of crime that shocks a community," said Steve Descano, Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney.
A Northern Virginia lab used a DNA database to create suspect sketches.
The investigation led Fairfax County cold case detectives to upstate New York last year where Smerk worked as a software engineer.
"I've not killed anyone else, if not for my wife and kids, I probably would be a serial killer," Smerk admitted during his interview.
Lawrence's sister was in the courtroom.
"I can't grapple with that or anything of what he did. That he just happened to pick my sister's house and go in and take her life for no reason other than what was in his head," said Mary Cowans, the victim's sister.
Watch the video above for more on this story.
English (US)