Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.
Dateline NBC‘s “Justice for Joy” chronicles the 1991 murder of Joy Hibbs. A decades-long investigation then resulted in the conviction of Hibbs’ then-neighbor, Robert Atkins. The upcoming episode will air on NBC this Friday, April 12, 2024, at 9 p.m. ET.
An official synopsis for the episode reads, “When Joy Hibbs is found dead in a fire, an autopsy shows she was murdered beforehand. The case went cold for years, until decades later, a shocking secret is revealed. Blayne Alexander reports.”
The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office reported that Hibbs’ 12-year-old son David found their house in flames on April 19, 1991. David had returned home early from school when he noticed the fire. After extinguishing the first, firefighters found the mother-of-two dead in bed. However, two days later, an autopsy revealed that she died of asphyxiation and stab wounds and had fractured ribs. Until then, the story was that the victim’s death was an accident.
Initially, authorities considered Robert Atkins, who lived two doors down the Joy Hibbs’, a suspect. They only arrested Atkins in 2022, over three decades after Hibbs’ murder, reported NBC News. Per the DA’s report, detectives knew from the beginning that when the crime occurred, he used to sell marijuana to Hibbs and her husband, Charlie. Atkins stood trial in 2024, which concluded with a guilty verdict and a life sentence.
Joy Hibb’s murder: How was the case solved?
According to the DA’s report, detectives learned about an unusual bond between Joy Hibbs and Robert Atkins during the initial investigation. Hibbs and her husband often purchased marijuana from Atkins around the time the crime occurred. This led authorities to consider Atkins as a suspect in the case. The autopsy and investigation revealed that the killer murdered Hibbs by stabbing and strangling her. After killing the 35-year-old, the individual set the house on fire to cover up the murder.
The outlet reported that several witnesses came forward alleging Atkins had threatened to kill Joy Hibbs because of a dispute over bad marijuana. The victim’s son, David Hibbs, said he once heard Atkins say to his mother, “I will f—— kill you and blow up your house.” Atkins reportedly confirmed fighting with Hibbs but denied threatening her, reported NBC Philadephia.NBC Philadephia.
Per the report, neighbors also reported seeing a blue Chevrolet Monte Carlo outside the Joy Hibbs’ house. They claimed to have seen the vehicle at the scene around 11:50 a.m. and 12:50 p.m., which police believed to be the time of the crime. Back then, Atkins owned a blue Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Moreover, the DA’s report stated that the suspect’s now ex-wife, April, claimed he returned home with blood and soot all over him. April claimed she was afraid of Robert and feared for her safety, which is why she gave him an alibi in 1991.
Thirty-one years after Joy Hibbs’ murder, authorities finally arrested Robert Atkins in May 2022 in connection with the cold case. According to NBC News, Atkins stood trial in January 2024, and a jury returned with a guilty verdict on February 1. Jurors convicted the 57-year-old on one count of first-degree murder and two counts of arson. CBS further reported that on February 2, Atkins received a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
NBC Dateline‘s episode on Joy Hibbs’ murder and the conviction of Robert Atkins will air on April 12, 2024.
