Robin Lee Row killed her husband and two children in order to collect on their life insurance policies.
A Case of Arson
On February 10, 1992, a fire broke out on the first floor of an apartment where Robin Row's estranged husband and two children were living. When the firemen arrived at the burning building they discovered the bodies of Robin's husband Randy Row, 34, and their children Joshua, 10, and Tabitha, 8. All had died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
It was determined that the fire had been started in two places on the first floor of the apartment and a liquid had been used to ignite the fires. It was also determined that the circuit switch to the smoke alarm had been flipped to the off position.
The Investigation
Robin Row had been staying with friends because of marital problems, but because of the nature of the fire she became a lead suspect in the police investigation.
When the police searched her car they discovered copies of six life insurance policies taken out on the Row family totaling around $276,000 and naming Robin as the full benefactor. The most recent policy was purchased just 17 days before the fire.
Also during the search it was discovered that Robin had been stealing money from her job at the YMCA. She was arrested, charged with grand theft and put in jail.
More Victims?
The investigation also uncovered that Robin had previously lost two children. Her baby daughter died in 1977 from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and her son Keith died in 1980 in a what was ruled as an accidental house fire.
An Untold Alibi
With the evidence pointing heavily at Robin, the detectives continued to investigate her and solicited help from the friend that Robin had been staying with while separated from her husband.
The friend began recording phone conversations and prompted by the detectives, she told Robin that on the night of the fire she had awoken and gone downstairs and was surprised to see that Robin was not there. Robin told her that she was outside in the car, talking with her psychiatrist until around 4:30 a.m. Joan suggested to Robin that she tell the police since it would give her a solid alibi as to her whereabouts on the night of the fire.
On March 23, 1992, Robin was arrested for three counts of murder. At no time did Robin ever tell the police her alibi.
The Final Betrayal of Motherhood
On December 16, 1993, Robin was found guilty of the crime of premeditated murder and she was sentenced to death. During her sentencing Judge Alan Schwartzman called her a pathological liar and went on to say, "Robin Row's actions represent the final betrayal of motherhood and embody the ultimate affront to civilized notions of maternal instinct," adding "Maternal 'pedocide' — the killing of one's own children — is the embodiment of the cold-blooded, pitiless slayer — a descent into the blackened heart of darkness."
Currently Robin Row is the only female on death row in Idaho. Joshua Scott Cornellier is the son of Christopher Cornellier and Robin Lee Hogan Cornellier Row (who is still incarcerated today). Randy Row is Joshua's stepfather.
A Case of Arson
On February 10, 1992, a fire broke out on the first floor of an apartment where Robin Row's estranged husband and two children were living. When the firemen arrived at the burning building they discovered the bodies of Robin's husband Randy Row, 34, and their children Joshua, 10, and Tabitha, 8. All had died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
It was determined that the fire had been started in two places on the first floor of the apartment and a liquid had been used to ignite the fires. It was also determined that the circuit switch to the smoke alarm had been flipped to the off position.
The Investigation
Robin Row had been staying with friends because of marital problems, but because of the nature of the fire she became a lead suspect in the police investigation.
When the police searched her car they discovered copies of six life insurance policies taken out on the Row family totaling around $276,000 and naming Robin as the full benefactor. The most recent policy was purchased just 17 days before the fire.
Also during the search it was discovered that Robin had been stealing money from her job at the YMCA. She was arrested, charged with grand theft and put in jail.
More Victims?
The investigation also uncovered that Robin had previously lost two children. Her baby daughter died in 1977 from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and her son Keith died in 1980 in a what was ruled as an accidental house fire.
An Untold Alibi
With the evidence pointing heavily at Robin, the detectives continued to investigate her and solicited help from the friend that Robin had been staying with while separated from her husband.
The friend began recording phone conversations and prompted by the detectives, she told Robin that on the night of the fire she had awoken and gone downstairs and was surprised to see that Robin was not there. Robin told her that she was outside in the car, talking with her psychiatrist until around 4:30 a.m. Joan suggested to Robin that she tell the police since it would give her a solid alibi as to her whereabouts on the night of the fire.
On March 23, 1992, Robin was arrested for three counts of murder. At no time did Robin ever tell the police her alibi.
The Final Betrayal of Motherhood
On December 16, 1993, Robin was found guilty of the crime of premeditated murder and she was sentenced to death. During her sentencing Judge Alan Schwartzman called her a pathological liar and went on to say, "Robin Row's actions represent the final betrayal of motherhood and embody the ultimate affront to civilized notions of maternal instinct," adding "Maternal 'pedocide' — the killing of one's own children — is the embodiment of the cold-blooded, pitiless slayer — a descent into the blackened heart of darkness."
Currently Robin Row is the only female on death row in Idaho. Joshua Scott Cornellier is the son of Christopher Cornellier and Robin Lee Hogan Cornellier Row (who is still incarcerated today). Randy Row is Joshua's stepfather.
Robin Lee Row killed her husband and two children in order to collect on their life insurance policies.
A Case of Arson
On February 10, 1992, a fire broke out on the first floor of an apartment where Robin Row's estranged husband and two children were living. When the firemen arrived at the burning building they discovered the bodies of Robin's husband Randy Row, 34, and their children Joshua, 10, and Tabitha, 8. All had died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
It was determined that the fire had been started in two places on the first floor of the apartment and a liquid had been used to ignite the fires. It was also determined that the circuit switch to the smoke alarm had been flipped to the off position.
The Investigation
Robin Row had been staying with friends because of marital problems, but because of the nature of the fire she became a lead suspect in the police investigation.
When the police searched her car they discovered copies of six life insurance policies taken out on the Row family totaling around $276,000 and naming Robin as the full benefactor. The most recent policy was purchased just 17 days before the fire.
Also during the search it was discovered that Robin had been stealing money from her job at the YMCA. She was arrested, charged with grand theft and put in jail.
More Victims?
The investigation also uncovered that Robin had previously lost two children. Her baby daughter died in 1977 from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and her son Keith died in 1980 in a what was ruled as an accidental house fire.
An Untold Alibi
With the evidence pointing heavily at Robin, the detectives continued to investigate her and solicited help from the friend that Robin had been staying with while separated from her husband.
The friend began recording phone conversations and prompted by the detectives, she told Robin that on the night of the fire she had awoken and gone downstairs and was surprised to see that Robin was not there. Robin told her that she was outside in the car, talking with her psychiatrist until around 4:30 a.m. Joan suggested to Robin that she tell the police since it would give her a solid alibi as to her whereabouts on the night of the fire.
On March 23, 1992, Robin was arrested for three counts of murder. At no time did Robin ever tell the police her alibi.
The Final Betrayal of Motherhood
On December 16, 1993, Robin was found guilty of the crime of premeditated murder and she was sentenced to death. During her sentencing Judge Alan Schwartzman called her a pathological liar and went on to say, "Robin Row's actions represent the final betrayal of motherhood and embody the ultimate affront to civilized notions of maternal instinct," adding "Maternal 'pedocide' — the killing of one's own children — is the embodiment of the cold-blooded, pitiless slayer — a descent into the blackened heart of darkness."
Currently Robin Row is the only female on death row in Idaho. Joshua Scott Cornellier is the son of Christopher Cornellier and Robin Lee Hogan Cornellier Row (who is still incarcerated today). Randy Row is Joshua's stepfather.
A Case of Arson
On February 10, 1992, a fire broke out on the first floor of an apartment where Robin Row's estranged husband and two children were living. When the firemen arrived at the burning building they discovered the bodies of Robin's husband Randy Row, 34, and their children Joshua, 10, and Tabitha, 8. All had died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
It was determined that the fire had been started in two places on the first floor of the apartment and a liquid had been used to ignite the fires. It was also determined that the circuit switch to the smoke alarm had been flipped to the off position.
The Investigation
Robin Row had been staying with friends because of marital problems, but because of the nature of the fire she became a lead suspect in the police investigation.
When the police searched her car they discovered copies of six life insurance policies taken out on the Row family totaling around $276,000 and naming Robin as the full benefactor. The most recent policy was purchased just 17 days before the fire.
Also during the search it was discovered that Robin had been stealing money from her job at the YMCA. She was arrested, charged with grand theft and put in jail.
More Victims?
The investigation also uncovered that Robin had previously lost two children. Her baby daughter died in 1977 from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and her son Keith died in 1980 in a what was ruled as an accidental house fire.
An Untold Alibi
With the evidence pointing heavily at Robin, the detectives continued to investigate her and solicited help from the friend that Robin had been staying with while separated from her husband.
The friend began recording phone conversations and prompted by the detectives, she told Robin that on the night of the fire she had awoken and gone downstairs and was surprised to see that Robin was not there. Robin told her that she was outside in the car, talking with her psychiatrist until around 4:30 a.m. Joan suggested to Robin that she tell the police since it would give her a solid alibi as to her whereabouts on the night of the fire.
On March 23, 1992, Robin was arrested for three counts of murder. At no time did Robin ever tell the police her alibi.
The Final Betrayal of Motherhood
On December 16, 1993, Robin was found guilty of the crime of premeditated murder and she was sentenced to death. During her sentencing Judge Alan Schwartzman called her a pathological liar and went on to say, "Robin Row's actions represent the final betrayal of motherhood and embody the ultimate affront to civilized notions of maternal instinct," adding "Maternal 'pedocide' — the killing of one's own children — is the embodiment of the cold-blooded, pitiless slayer — a descent into the blackened heart of darkness."
Currently Robin Row is the only female on death row in Idaho. Joshua Scott Cornellier is the son of Christopher Cornellier and Robin Lee Hogan Cornellier Row (who is still incarcerated today). Randy Row is Joshua's stepfather.
Family Members
Parents
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
