Thanks to some good police work, a 30-year-old murder case was solved last year, and the man responsible for the heinous killing may spend up to 70 years behind bars.

While in the courtroom on Friday, it was revealed that Stephen Smerk, 52, from Niskayuna, made a chilling confession, joking that if he had not gotten married, he would "probably be a serial killer."

Upstate New York man charged for Virginia murder in 1994, Upstate New York man makes chilling courtroom confession, Stephen Smerk Niskayuna New York, Upstate New York Cold Case, 518-news, 518news
Stephen Smerk, Niskayuna Photo: NY Post
loading...

 

According to sources, Stephen Smerk, 52, admitted to fatally stabbing 37-year-old Robin Lawrence while she was in her Virginia home in November 1994 with her 2-year-old daughter. Smerk, who was living in Niskayuna and working as a software engineer, was taken into custody in September 2023 after DNA evidence matched him to the murder.

"When police arrived, they found Lawrence face down next to her bed with a pillow between her legs, the detective assigned to the case testified. He recalled wounds to her head, face and neck." -NY Post

 

 Intent on Killing Anyone he Came Across

Smerk, then 22, was stationed at Fort Myer in Arlington for his first year in the Army when he drove off from the base one night and, according to sources, became intent on killing anyone he came across.

“It wouldn’t have mattered if there were 50 people in that house,” Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Kelsey Gill said. “He set out to kill someone.”

attachment-Woman killed
loading...

Murderer Makes Chilling Courtroom Confession

The details of the 1994 murder are grisly.  Police say that Smerk stabbed Lawrence in her Virginia home while her two-year-old daughter was home.  A family friend found her lifeless four days after the killing when Lawrence’s husband asked for a wellness check while he was away on a business trip.

Shortly after seeing Lawrence's body, the friend says that the two-year-old crawled over to her in soiled diapers, looking for comfort.  According to reports, Lawrence was stabbed 49 times.

While in the courtroom on Friday, prosecuting attorney Gill said that Smerk claims he stabbed her a few times, adding that she was "cut up pretty good."

Gill also informed the courtroom of another stomach-churning statement made by Smerk, who cryptically confessed that "I’ve not killed anyone else, but I could be a serial killer if I never got married," according to the prosecutor.

Per his plea deal, he could face up to 70 years in prison.

11 of New York's Most Wanted Criminals with Upstate Connections

Below are individuals with ties to the Capital Region and Upstate New York. They have been designated as some of New York's Most Wanted Fugitives and should be considered ARMED and DANGEROUS.

New York State's 5 Most Dangerous Roads [RANKED]

With plenty of big cities and numerous busy highways, it should come as no surprise New York state is unfortunately home to some of the most dangerous roads in the nation. While you would expect New York City to be the home of such roadways (2 on this list), the danger is not limited to the Big Apple. According to Catalano Law, 3 New York State's 5 most dangerous roads live mostly Upstate and should be navigated with the most extreme caution. Here are the 5 most dangerous in the Empire State.

Gallery Credit: Matty Jeff

More From 107.7 WGNA