Authorities have named a suspect in the cold case murder of a woman who was stabbed to death in 2010 while working at a Georgia phone store.
Willie James Jr. is facing charges of malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault in the killing of Sandra Robinson, whose murder happened nearly 16 years ago on March 17, 2020, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
James, 58, of Wayne County, was arrested on Monday, March 2, the GBI said in a news release issued Wednesday, March 4.
At a March 4 news conference, GBI Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Jessica Hamilton said Robinson “was known as a loving daughter, sister and devoted mother to four children.”
“She was known for being family oriented, a people person and a hard worker,” Hamilton added.
On March 17, 2020, Robinson’s boyfriend called 911 after he arrived at the Prepaid Superstore in Douglas — where Robinson worked — to pick her up from her shift, according to Hamilton.
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Her boyfriend found the store’s doors were locked, Hamilton said. Authorities responded and found Robinson had been stabbed to death in the back of the store, according to Hamilton. She was 32 years old.
“Through the years,” GBI “agents and investigators both past and present conducted numerous interviews, collected evidence, did neighborhood canvases, reviewed surveillance footage from the area and continued to reevaluate items of evidence for potential new leads,” Hamilton said.
“While this case may have been deemed cold, it was never forgotten,” she added.
Following continued investigative efforts and testing of forensic evidence, James was connected to Robinson’s killing.
The GBI described James as “an associate of Robinson” who “could often be found” at the phone store where she worked.
Information on whether he had retained legal counsel as of March 4 was not immediately available.
At the news conference, one of Robinson’s children, Trey Robinson, said his mother’s death was “life changing” for him and his “entire family.”
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“I was very close with my mom,” Trey said.
He said her killing resulted in him pursuing a law enforcement career and becoming a police officer in 2016.
“It has always been my goal to fight for justice and for my entire family, because my mom did not deserve what happened to her,” Trey said. “Ever since then, I have fought, I have fought, I have fought for her justice.”
A potential motive for Sandra’s killing was not specified by law enforcement.
The GBI is continuing to investigate her death.
“Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be given to the Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution,” the GBI said.
