The Murder of Robin Sowders
I watched another episode of The Devil Speaks for this case. It’s season 2 episode 2, titled ‘No Remorse.’ I prefer shows like this one that have more actual interrogation footage and interviews then the reenactments. After a night of drinking, a 49 year old man was killed by someone he was close to and thought he could trust.
Background
Robin Sowders was a 49 year old who had just moved back to Bloomington, Indiana to be closer to his family after his marriage ended. He was also taking care of his sister Stephanie for awhile, because she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Robin Sowders
One of Stephanie’s friends, named Melissa visited her often, and she and Robin had an instant connection. Melissa also had two sons, 20 year old Andre and 14 year old Aaron. Melissa and Robin only dated for a few months before getting married, and Robin was also close with his new step-sons.
Murder
On October 24, 2010, a Sunday, one of Robin’s friends went over to check on Robin. He had just gotten knee surgery so he couldn’t do much more than spend time at home. She knocked on the door, and when no one answered she tried the door and it was unlocked. She started walking through the house, and noticed some blood on the carpet and found more as she started walking towards the master bedroom. In the bedroom, she found Robin. He had been beaten and she described his face as “looking like a pumpkin,” from being so swollen.
Robin’s friend called 911, and the ambulance arrived. Robin was actually stable when he was taken to the hospital.
Investigation
The police searched Robin’s home after he was taken to the hospital. The house was a bloody crime scene. There was pools of bloods in the carpet, blood on the walls and a majority of the blood was in the master bedroom. The pillows and sheets were bloody, and on the floor. The police also were searching for Melissa and Aaron.
Robin’s family went to the hospital to see him. They tried calling Melissa, and her younger son Aaron but they couldn’t get a hold of them. However, Detective Shawn Karr, got a call that they were found and were at the police station.
Melissa was interviewed and she said needed to file a restraining order against her husband.
Melissa said when she got home on the 24th, Robin was drinking and she started drinking with him. Robin was also taking medication from his surgery, but it didn’t stop him even though she told him to be careful. Melissa said that Robin, Andre and Andre’s girlfriend came in to her work at the Four Winds hotel to drink while she was working her second shift. Robin was intoxicated and was belligerent, and she told Andre to take him home.
Next, Melissa played voicemails from Robin and on them he said he was going to hurt Aaron, her youngest son. Melissa called Aaron after work and told him about the messages, and that she was going to pick him up. Melissa said she and Aaron stayed at the hotel that night.
The police eventually told Melissa that Robin was fighting for his life, after being severely beat up. Melissa and Aaron were released.
The Investigation Continues
The police went back to the crime scene. While studying the crime scene, they found it strange that there was no cast off on the walls from a murder weapon. They determined that Robin was beat with someone’s fists, and that it was personal.
The police also found Robin’s found underneath the dresser that had been pulled out. Robin’s last message was to Melissa around 11:30pm that night. They also needed to speak to Andre, because he was the last known person to see Robin.
Andre Wells was brought into the station. The police noticed that he didn't have any injuries on him. He also confirmed that he took Robin home after they went to the bar at the Four Winds and that he left to go back to his dad’s house. His dad and girlfriend both confirmed his alibi.
The police also noted that Andre got emotional throughout the interview, and he asked them to let him know if Robin was still alive so that he could say goodbye.
Robin Dies
On Monday, October 25, the day after the murder, Robin is rushed for surgery to help the swelling in his brain. However, his injuries are too severe and he is taken off his ventilator. Robin also dropped one more bombshell before he died, he said Melissa did this to him.
The police bring Melissa in for questioning again, and told her what Robin had said. She denied it, and said she didn’t hurt him and just wanted to get away from him. The police also told Melissa that Robin had died. She was released because the police didn’t have any evidence against her.
The Witness
On May 2, 2011, seven months after Robin’s murder, the police pull over a man who claims he has information about a murder. The man’s name is Brian Thompson and he was pulled over for not having a license. He was also out on parole, so the police make a deal with him for the information he has.
Brian said he was friends with Andre Wells, and Andre confessed to him that he murdered Robin. Andre told him that Robin was threatening his brother, Aaron. Andre said he duct taped his hands so that he could punch Robin.
The police obviously needed more evidence, so had Brian wear a wire.
Meanwhile, the police access Andre’s phone records to see if he was really telling the truth about his alibi. Andre got a call from his mom at 11:27pm that night, and the next thing they see was that Andre’s phone pinged near Robin’s house at 12:09am.
The Confession
A few weeks later, Brian returned with the recording they were waiting for. On the recording, Andre is heard saying he killed Robin to protect Aaron. He said some startling things such as “that’s my brother, f*** you,” and “he deserved it, I’d do it 10,000 times over again.”
The police were stunned because the Andre they were listening to was different from the emotional person they talked to the other day.
Arrest and Conviction
Andre Wells was arrested on September 18, 2012 for the murder of Robin.
Andre Wells
The prosecutor’s story was that on the night of October 23, Robin was drinking with Andre, and became intoxicated and belligerent. Andre took Robin home like he said he did. Once he got the phone call from his mom, about Robin threatening Aaron, he went back to confront Robin. They said Andre got the duct tape, and beat Robin and stomped him, also. Andre also attempted to make the house look like it had been robbed, however he only kicked in the door, and didn’t steal any valuables.
Andre was found guilty and sentenced to 60 years in prison.
Other
All charges against Brian were dropped, as he made a deal with the police.
All charges were dropped against Andre’s dad and girlfriend for giving a false alibi.
No charges were ever filed against Melissa, despite Robin saying she did it to him.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I feel sorry for Robin. Should he have been threatening anyone? No. Should he have been mixing his medication with alcohol? I mean that’s up to the person doing it. However, he should not have been beat so badly that his family said they could barely recognize him. He shouldn’t have beat so badly that the doctors couldn’t save his life or perform surgery on him because his injuries were so bad. Andre Wells is a monster, and deserves to rot in prison. I mean seriously, how can you beat someone so badly with your own fists and then pretend to care about them????
I also think Melissa is guiltier than she claims, but the police have no evidence so she’s out there living her life.
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