VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A Virginia Beach man who maintained his innocence despite a trail of forensic evidence was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison plus five years for the 2020 stabbing death of his landlady.
Hagen Lawrence Roberts, 41, received the maximum possible sentence for the first-degree murder of Cynthia Capps. The sentencing, announced by the City of Virginia Beach, follows a November 2025 conviction that concluded a five-year investigation sparked by a single drop of blood on a kitchen floor.
The Investigation: A Single Drop of Blood
The case dates back to Oct. 8, 2020, at a residence on Green Cedar Lane. According to prosecutors, Capps’ husband called 911 after emerging from a shower to find his wife missing. His discovery of a lone bloodstain in the kitchen alerted authorities to potential foul play.
Responding Virginia Beach Police Department officers focused their attention on a locked room rented by Roberts. Upon breaching the door, officers discovered Roberts on his bed, appearing to have recently showered, with a black bandana wrapped around a fresh laceration on his hand.
A subsequent search of the property led investigators to a backyard toolbox. Inside, they discovered Capps’ remains. A medical examiner later determined she had been stabbed more than 90 times in the head, face, and neck.
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Forensic Evidence and “Overwhelming” Proof
The prosecution’s case leaned heavily on forensic recovery. Investigators found a broken metal shard embedded in the victim’s skull; a matching folding knife with a snapped tip—stained with dried blood—was recovered from Roberts’ bedroom.
Further evidence included:
- DNA Matching: Forensic analysis identified DNA from both Capps and Roberts on the murder weapon and blood-soaked clothing found in a trash can.
- Crime Scene Stains: Multiple bloodstains throughout the property linked the tenant to the disposal of the body.
- Physical Trauma: The severity of the attack was highlighted by the medical examiner, who noted the “savage” nature of the head and facial wounds.
During the sentencing, Circuit Court Judge Stephen C. Mahan characterized the evidence against Roberts as “overwhelming,” noting that the standard sentencing guidelines were insufficient to address the brutality of the crime.
Defiance in the Courtroom
Despite the forensic links, Roberts maintained his innocence throughout the three-day trial and at his final sentencing hearing.
“The picture you’re painting of me as a menace to society, and a killer with no remorse, is not true,” Roberts told the court, according to reports by The Virginian-Pilot. “But I can’t lie and admit to something I didn’t do.”
The victim’s family offered harrowing testimony regarding the impact of the loss. Capps’ brother, Cavan, compared the violence of the act to a horror film, stating the reality of the murder was “worse than anything you see on TV.”
Justice After Five Years
The sentencing marks the end of a protracted legal chapter for the Virginia Beach community. Roberts was found guilty in November 2025 of first-degree murder and stabbing in the commission of a felony. By imposing the maximum sentence, the court ensured that Roberts will remain behind bars for the duration of his natural life.
