COLD AND CALCULATED KILLINGS Justice served 33 years after hideous attack

It may have taken three decades, but Florida mother Jan Cornell finally saw someone convicted for slaying her daughter and her babysitter

A tragedy cast its shadow over the city of Cape Coral, Florida, for several decades, but it began with an ordinary family evening. 

Single mum Jan Cornell, 28, lived in a flat with her 11-year-old daughter Robin. On 9 May 1990, Jan’s 32-year-old friend and colleague, Lisa Story, moved in and the three were looking forward to being “roommates”.

Robin loved playing outdoors. At birth, she was small and pretty, like a bird, which was why she was named Robin. Lisa was a keen photographer and motorcyclist. She was engaged and planned to marry that year.

That night, Jan’s boyfriend invited her out, so Lisa offered to babysit. Jan was reluctant, but Robin insisted that she go and have fun.

Jan returned home at 4am. But when she reached her front door, it was bolted from the inside. She knocked but there was no answer. She went round to the back where there were sliding glass doors, which were open. On going inside and upstairs, she discovered the bodies of her daughter and Lisa.

The hysterical mother called emergency services and desperately tried to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on Robin. Robin and Lisa had been beaten, suffocated with pillows and sexually assaulted, probably after death. It appeared the attacker had entered the property while they were asleep and killed them. He’d been there for a few hours and had a shower. A few belongings inside. She knocked but there was no answer. She went round to the back where there were sliding glass doors, which were open. On going inside and upstairs, she discovered the bodies of her daughter and Lisa.