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FOR OVER 30 years, a family was plagued by mystery and tragedy as their matriarch’s homicide went unsolved.
A breakthrough in Joy Hibbs’ cold case murder was made when police arrested Robert Atkins.
Who is Robert Atkins?
Born on February 6, 1966, Robert Atkins is a convicted murderer from Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania.
On May 25, 2022, Atkins was arrested in connection with 36-year-old Joy Hibbs’ homicide.
He was charged with both first-degree and second-degree murder.
He was also charged with seven counts of arson and two counts of robbery.
On April 19, 1991, Joy was found dead at her home in Bristol Township of the abovementioned state.
When police arrived at the scene, her family’s home was engulfed in flames; her husband and her children survived.
Although law enforcement recovered Joy’s body from the housefire, an autopsy concluded the mother of two was dead before the blaze.
Investigators revealed Joy was violently assaulted, asphyxiated, and stabbed five times.
They believed her home was set on fire to cover up her murder.
On February 1, 2024, Atkins was found guilty of first-degree murder and arson.
Where is Atkins now?
Atkins remains incarcerated at SCI Camp Hill in Lower Allen Township, Pennsylvania.
Joy’s homicide and arson investigation are revisited in an episode of Dateline NBC titled Justice For Joy.
On April 12, 2024, Justice For Joy is scheduled to be aired at 9 pm EST via NBC.
Audiences who miss that Friday’s broadcast can check out the episode on Hulu or Peacock.
How was Atkins caught for Joy Hibbs’ murder?
Since the beginning of Joy’s investigation, Atkins was considered a suspect.
According to police, they interviewed several people who described seeing the same vehicle in front of the Hibbs’ residence before the housefire.
Witnesses’ description matched Atkins’ blue Chevy Monte Carlo.
Not only was Atkins’ car tied to the crime scene, but it was discovered he was in a dispute with the Hibbs family over marijuana that the former sold the latter.
When cops interviewed Atkins in 1991, his alibi was that he and his family were on vacation in the Poconos on the day of Joy’s death.
However, records from the motel where his family was staying revealed they did not arrive until later that same night.
The suspect’s ex-wife and son also testified that the vacation was not planned.
When was Atkins sentenced?
On February 2, 2024, Atkins was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
In his victim impact statement, Joy’s husband Charlie Hibbs told the court: “As this nightmare comes to an end for my family, his is about to start.
“Joy was my high school sweetheart, my first love, mother to my children, and the loving soul that kept our family together.
“The choice he made that day broke our hearts but strengthened us as a family.
“But I hope that Mr. Atkins lives to be a very old man and thinks about the choices he made that day, and all the things he has missed while spending time incarcerated.”
