What Happened to Joyce Hibbs — and Where Is Her Murderer Robert Atkins Now?

The day of the homicide, Robert Atkins went again to his house covered in blood and advised his spouse they were leaving.

Apr. 12 2024, Published 4:37 p.m. ET

The tale of Joy Hibbs won the Dateline remedy, and reporter Blayne Alexander stated this was one of the vital extra emotional instances to hide. In a dialog with NBC Insider, Alexander said, "I think viewers will really be struck by the persistence of this family, especially Joy’s son David." Almost every particular person involved in this tragic tale grieved for Hibbs in their own manner. Most of those people by no means were given the risk to meet her, yet their sadness is palpable.

Hibbs was once murdered in 1991 and it took authorities over 31 years to meet up with the person that did it. His title is Robert Atkins, and he used to be a suspect since day one, but police could not in finding the evidence they had to arrest him. Finally, one courageous person came forward after years of keeping the reality of what came about locked away. Where is Robert Atkins now? Here's what we all know.

Where is Robert Atkins now? He is spending the rest of his life in jail.

In May 2022, Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub announced that Robert Francis Atkins, age 56, was once being arrested in reference to the murder of Hibbs, according to NBC Philadelphia. The outlet was once able to catch Atkins being escorted into the police station, handcuffed and flanked on both sides via law enforcement. He did not make any statements and best seemed down, stone-faced whilst chewing gum.

Almost two years later in February 2024, NBC Philadelphia once more reported that Atkins used to be "convicted of first-degree murder, arson, and other offenses for the 1991 murder of Joy Hibbs." He was once then given a existence sentence with out parole as well as an additional 15 to 30 years. He is these days incarcerated on the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill in Camp Hill, Penn.

A statement from Hibbs's family thanked District Attorney Matt Weintraub, Chief Deputy DA Jennifer Schornm, and Detective David Hanks for doggedly searching for solutions. They also expressed gratitude for the "outpouring of love and support from the community and ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time."

What happened to Jennifer Hibbs?

The symbol of coming home to his house on fireplace will stay with David Hibbs perpetually. According to NBC Philadelphia On April 19, 1991, 12 year-old David used to be let out of college early and arrived house to seek out the kitchen in their house was once engulfed in flames. Terrified, he ran subsequent door to his neighbor's area so they could name the fireplace department. Once the fireplace was once out, government came upon Hibbs's frame in her son's room. Initially, they thought it was an twist of fate.

An post-mortem would later divulge that Hibbs were stabbed a couple of instances. Although she died from asphyxiation, no smoke used to be present in her lungs, and Hibbs's ribs were damaged. Prior to her demise, Hibbs had cashed her paycheck but authorities may just not to find any money on the crime scene. Witnesses observed a blue Chevrolet Monte Carlo parked out of doors their house right through the time Hibbs used to be possibly killed. Authorities linked it to Robert Atkins, a former neighbor.

Atkins used to once in a while sell marijuana to Hibbs and her husband, but in a unusual twist, he was also a confidential informant for "Bristol Township Police Department at the time of the murder, and had a 'good relationship' with Bristol Township narcotics detectives." It's imaginable this saved the government off of him until there was a wreck within the case in January 2022.

The case used to be passed over to the Bucks County Investigating Grand Jury, and Atkins's ex-wife April used to be referred to as to testify. She advised the grand jury that at the day Hibbs was once killed, her then-husband came house covered in blood. He informed April what happened and demanded she "call out of work and get their children because they were taking a trip to the Poconos." April remained quiet till she used to be finally compelled to talk.

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