Robert Atrops Sentenced For 1988 Murder of His Wife

A judge sentenced Robert Atrops to life in prison for the murder of his wife, following a jury finding him guilty in an April case that came forward with new DNA evidence found as part of Washington County’s new cold case unit. Atrops was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after 25 years.

Robert Atrops Sentenced to Life

The cold case finally came to a close when Atrops was sentenced to life in prison for the 1988 murder of his estranged wife, Deborah Lee Atrops. The guilty verdict came down in April, and the 71-year-old was given the possibility of parole when he is 96. Deborah’s body was found inside the trunk of her car in 1988, following her separation from her husband.

The case went cold but reopened, where a DNA breakthrough happened, leading to the arrest of Robert Atrops in his Newberg residence in 2023. At the time of Deborah’s disappearance, she was living in an apartment in Salem while Robert lived in the family’s home in Sherwood. The couple had a daughter whom they adopted, but according to investigators, their marriage crumbled from domestic violence and other marital issues.

Coworkers and friends told police that they had witnessed domestic abuse before Deborah’s death. Investigators found that she had begun a new relationship with a coworker and shared with friends that Robert had confronted her about the new relationship. In addition, Deborah also confided to friends that she feared for her life. On Nov. 29, 1988, Deborah was heading to a hair appointment in Tigard.

Robert supposedly stayed at home to care for their daughter. Deborah was supposed to pick up the couple’s 8-month-old daughter. When Deborah didn’t return, Robert reported her missing. Days later, Deborah was found dead in the trunk of her abandoned car at a remote construction site. When she went missing, Robert Atrops claimed that called friends, family, and the police several times. However, there were no records corroborating him making those calls.

At the time of the murder, the couple was estranged and were getting ready for a divorce. Deborah had said that there was domestic violence in the relationship. Her autopsy showed that she was assaulted and strangled to death. Deborah’s death was ruled a homicide. John Pearson, the coworker with whom Deborah formed her new relationship, worked with the police during the first 1988 investigation.

Reluctantly, he gave his DNA sample to investigators when the case reopened. Pearson left the state and failed to appear in court due to an arrest for a DUI. When the police showed up at Pearson’s home to take him to testify at Robert Atrops’ trial, they found out that Pearson had passed away from suicide.

Final Thoughts on Robert Atrops

Atrops broke down in tears, as Rhianna Stephens, his daughter, spoke: “When I was 8 months old, someone robbed me of having a life with my mom. There was no one to support me for every milestone – my first birthday, kindergarten graduation, 8th grade promotion, high school graduation, my wedding.” Deborah Lee Atrops was only 30 years old when she died. In other news, R.Kelly had overdosed in prison and was taken to the hospital. Before that, he had asked President Donald Trump to pardon him for his crimes.