Who killed Pauline Robbin Burgette?
In March of 1978, 16-year-old Pauline Robbin Burgette, a Caucasian female, was looking forward to a weekend at home in Phoenix, Arizona. Her mother and 11-year-old brother, Chad, were away on a trip, leaving the teenager to her own devices. Known to her friends and family as Robbin, she was described as an outgoing and friendly girl who had recently dropped out of high school to focus more on her social life.
On the evening of Sunday, March 12, 1978, the weekend took a horrific turn. Chad returned to the family's duplex near 26th Street and McDowell Road ahead of his mother. He found the door slightly ajar and, after receiving no answer to his calls for his sister, he entered her bedroom. There, he discovered a gruesome scene: Robbin was dead in her bed, the victim of a brutal attack.
An autopsy would later reveal that Pauline had been sexually assaulted and had sustained numerous stab wounds. Investigators found very few clues at the scene and no signs of forced entry, leading them to believe that Robbin may have known her attacker or attackers and willingly let them into the home. The brutality of the crime suggested it was an act of rage.
Despite a thorough investigation that has spanned decades, the murder of Pauline Robbin Burgette remains unsolved. Over the years, detectives have explored various leads. They looked into her social circle, which included several boyfriends and ex-boyfriends. Another avenue of investigation focused on threats she had reportedly received from women at a nearby apartment complex where she frequently babysat, stemming from advances made toward her by their husbands. A man who had allegedly harassed her while she was babysitting was also considered.
A significant development in the cold case came with the advancement of DNA technology. Evidence collected from the crime scene yielded DNA profiles of at least two unknown individuals, indicating that more than one person may have been present during the murder. However, these DNA profiles have not matched anyone in existing databases, leaving investigators with a crucial but, so far, unusable piece of the puzzle. No arrests have ever been made in connection with her death, and the identity of her killer or killers remains a mystery. The Phoenix Police Department continues to seek information from the public, offering a reward for any tips that lead to an arrest.
