The case of Meghan Landowski is a tragic and disturbing story that shook the Portsmouth, Virginia community in 2008.
Meghan Landowski was a talented 16-year-old dancer who attended a special arts high school. On April 10, 2008, she was found brutally murdered—stabbed about 40 times and sexually assaulted—in her home by her stepfather. Her arms had been duct-taped and she was found partially undressed, indicating sexual violence. The crime scene was particularly gruesome, with bloodstains in both her bedroom and kitchen, suggesting she was moved during the attack[1][5].
The initial investigation focused on a man accused of inappropriately touching Meghan: her stepfather’s former friend, who was under investigation for alleged sexual abuse. However, DNA evidence cleared him of the murder[1].
With that lead ruled out, the investigation was left without suspects until a memorial walk for Meghan led to a new tip. This pointed police toward Robert Barnes, a talented teenage violinist and former friend of Meghan’s from her arts school. Through persistent investigation—including DNA and behavioral analysis—police discovered that Barnes was indeed responsible for the crime. He had fantasized about such attacks and tried at first to mislead the investigation with an elaborate story, but all evidence pointed to him alone[1][3][5].
In 2009, Robert Barnes pled guilty to first-degree murder, attempted rape, aggravated sexual battery, abduction, and statutory rape. He was sentenced to 148 years with all but 42 years suspended, making him eligible for parole only after serving 42 years in prison[3][5].
The case remains memorable for its brutality, the difficulty of the investigation, and the shock it caused among those who knew both victim and perpetrator.
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