A Virginia man will never walk free again after killing his landlord’s wife and putting her in a toolbox.
Circuit Court Judge Stephen C. Mahan handed Hagen Lawrence Roberts, 41, a life term in prison without the possibility of parole for the stabbing death of 63-year-old Cynthia Capps. After a three-day trial, Lawrence was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder and stabbing in the commission of a felony.
According to the City of Virginia Beach, on Oct. 8, 2020, Capp’s husband had taken a shower and discovered that his wife was missing. He called 911 after searching for her in their home in Green Cedar Lane in the City of Virginia Beach and discovering a single drop of blood in the kitchen. Upon arrival, investigators learned that the couple had rented a room to the defendant. They tried to reach Roberts but found his door locked.
Soon, officers breached entry into the room where they found the defendant appearing to have just taken a shower and lying on the bed with a bandana wrapped around a cut on his right hand. Upon further search of the premises, authorities found bloodstains in the backyard where they found Capps’ body in a toolbox.
An autopsy report showed the victim was stabbed about 90 times with trauma to her head, face, and neck. A metal shard, which was the broken tip of a pocket knife, was also retrieved from her skull. It was a match for the black folding knife with a broken tip and dried blood found during the search of Roberts’ room. In addition, both the defendant's and Capps’ DNA were on the murder weapon and the defendant’s discarded clothes, reported 13 News Now.
The motive for the killing remains unclear.
Mahan sentenced Roberts to an additional 5 years in prison.
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