Need to know
- Joy Hibbs was murdered in her home in April 1991
- Her family has long suspected that their neighbor Robert Atkins had become the killer, but police were told to “stay away” because he was a drug informant
- Robert finally convicted of Joey's murder in February 2024
For more than 30 years, Robert Atkins escaped the murder – some believe the police helped him do it.
Occasional marijuana dealer was arrested in 2022 for the 1991 killing of Joy Hibbs, medical assistant, wife and mother of two children. Police initially believed Joey died in an accidental house fire in Bristol, Pennsylvania, but autopsy showed she had been stabbed multiple times, had a fractured rib and could have been suffocated, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.
Over the years, detectives have investigated several interested people, including Joey’s husband, Charlie Hibbs and Robert, a former neighbor who has sold marijuana to the couple several times. In an episode of 2024 Data lineher son recalled hearing his mother argued with Robert about the quality of her marijuana, and said he eavesdropped on the phone a few weeks before his death that Robert threatened her.
“I know my mom was shocked,” David Hibbs, 12, told reporters Blayne Alexander when his mother died. “But I don't think she takes it seriously because it's a $20 marijuana deal.”
Although authorities learned that Robert was furious, driving a car similar to what he saw near Hibbs' home on the day of the murder, he was not arrested until 2022. New investigators learn that his role as a police drug informant may save him from further scrutiny.
So, where is Robert Atkins now? It's everything about the convicted killer and why it took so long for the police to arrest him for the murder of Joey Heabers.
Who is Joy Hibbs?
Joy Hibbs and her two children, Angie and David.
Bucks County DA
Joy is a 35-year-old medical assistant who lives with her husband, Charlie, and their two children, David and Angie Hibbs. The couple met while attending high school in Florida and got married after graduation.
The family settled in Pennsylvania, where Charlie worked, often shooting videos about their adventures. “My mom loves to do everything, and my dad likes to do it,” David later told Data line. “So, fishing, outdoors, she likes riding with him on the back of the motorcycle.”
After Robert's arrest, Joy's family issued a statement calling her “a sweet, charming Southern girl from central Florida” who “has been highly regarded and hobby from her friends, neighbors and colleagues.”
How did Joy Hibbs die?
Joy Hibbs' home.
Bucks County District Attorney's Office
On April 19, 1991, David returned home at around 1:05 pm and found their kitchen on fire. After firefighters put out the flames, they found Joey dead in his son's bedroom.
Although police initially believed she died in the fire, her autopsy report told a different story. The mother of two was stabbed several times and strangled with electric wires. She also had a fractured rib.
The autopsy showed that the joy was in her lungs without any smoke, indicating that she died before the fire. Although there was no sign of forced entry, her wallet was found empty, even though she went to the bank and withdrew the cash that morning.
Witnesses also reported that the Blue Chevrolet Monte Carlo was parked outside the Hibbs home on the day of the murder. In addition to Robert's threatened phone call, someone threw a brick through the family's window, kicked to the back door of their home, and cut off Joey's tires in the months before the murder.
Who is Robert Atkins?
Robert F. Atkins.
Bucks County District Attorney's Office
Robert, a former neighbor of the Hibbs family, sold to Joy and Charlie. In an interview with HuffPost in March 2014, he admitted that he and the couple would buy “about a quarter of an ounce” from dealers and that they were not happy with their recent purchases.
“I think it's joy to bring it back…and want the money back,” Robert said. “But they took the pot out of it and added seeds. I told her, 'I can't get it back. That guy would be mad at me and thought I wanted me to try to tear him off.”
Joey also established a friendship with Robert’s wife in April, as the couple lived in only a few houses.
“I remember he lost his temper,” David said of Robert Data line. “You'll hear him. You can hear him from our house.”
Why did it take so long for the police to arrest Robert Atkins?
Although police allegedly verified Robert's unfavorable Billy, there are conflicting records of his whereabouts on April 19, 1991.
He claimed he was talking on the phone at home during the murder and went to Poconos with his family for two hours later that evening. But in March 2014, retired Bristol Town detective Richard Bilson said he sent two detectives to Poconos, “they confirmed he was there when he was murdered.” Although police also learned that Robert had driven a Chevrolet Monte Carlo, he was black.
Joey's case stagnated for years until Sgt. Mike Slaughter was appointed in 2014. After clearing any involvement from Charles, he learned that the initial main detective was told to “stay away from” Robert, as he was working as a police drug informant at the time.
“It's not a dime, they're a cent,” Slaughter told Data line. “We can get drugs in my brain all the time, and that doesn’t make sense.”
This revelation gives new revelations to Joey’s son’s perception of the case a few years ago.
David told Hoff Spoon in 2014: “Honestly, I know they know who did it, and they had a hard time investigating.
What was Robert Atkins' verdict?
Robert Francis Atkins.
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
Robert's Alibi collapsed after the massacre began. Later that day, he called and arrived at Poconos than initially thought, authorities learned that he could reach his grandmother's blue Monte Carlo.
In 2016, Robert's current ex-wife told police in April that he was “covered in blood” the day Joy was murdered.
“He's dirty. He's absolutely dirty,” she later told Data lineThe accusation of Robert of abuse of her for years made her too scared to report his confession. “He said, 'I stabbed a man and lit a house.' Transparent
As the evidence was largely indirect, it took another six years for the police to arrest it. In May 2022, Robert was charged for alleged first-degree murder, arson and robbery. He was convicted in 2024, sentenced to jail for Joy’s murder, plus 30 years of arson.
Where is Robert Atkins now?
Robert has been serving his sentence since February 2024 at Benner Township, a medium-sized prison in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Through his attorney, he denied any allegations of abuse from his ex-wife.
In the convicted murderer's verdict, Charlie told the court that his target had been “taken away everything since his wife was murdered.” [Robert] cherish. ”
“Mr. Atkins, soon you will be recruited to the real Badasses school,” Phillyburbs said. “I was tormented by what she went through. His intentions that day were pure evil. Now it's time to hold him accountable.”
Joey's son argued that detectives who he believes he intends to ignore the 1991 evidence should also be held responsible. “In my case, they are accomplices in this crime and deserve trial,” he said.