$50K Reward Offered In 1990 New Haven Cold Case Homicide: Officials

NEW HAVEN, CT — Thirty-six years after his murder, officials announced a $50,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person who killed John Robinson in New Haven in 1990.

Authorized by Gov. Ned Lamont, John P. Doyle, Jr., State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of New Haven, and New Haven Police Chief David Zannelli said Tuesday that the reward "reflects a renewed effort to encourage anyone with knowledge about the homicide to come forward."

They noted that despite extensive investigative efforts over more than three decades, the case remains unsolved.

This action rescinds a previously authorized $20,000 reward issued in 1990.

Investigators from the New Haven Police Department and the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Cold Case Unit continue to work on the case and maintain contact with Robinson’s family.

Born May 10, 1965, he was discovered deceased on March 14, 1990, at 178 Temple St.

Police were alerted after an individual reported a foul odor coming from the location. An autopsy determined the cause of death to be craniocerebral trauma, and the case was ruled a homicide.

In 1990, then-Governor William A. O’Neill approved an initial $20,000 reward following an application by then-State’s Attorney Michael Dearington. Despite this, no significant leads developed. The New Haven Police Department recently renewed its request for an increased reward, citing the potential for new information to surface if the reward amount increased.

The reward will be paid by order of the court upon conviction of the individual or individuals responsible.

"Members of the public should never underestimate the importance of what they know or assume that investigators already have that information," Doyle said. "Even a seemingly small detail can be the critical piece that helps investigators solve a case and bring about a successful prosecution."

Anyone with information related to the death of John Robinson should contact the New Haven Police Department at 1-888-888-TIPS or 203-946-6296 or text “Tips” to 274637.

"We never forget our unsolved cases," Zannelli said. "Just because a case remains unsolved doesn’t mean it’s ever far from our hearts or our minds. We’re committed to going back, taking a fresh look, and making sure families know we stand with them and that we will never stop seeking answers with the goal of getting closure and justice to grieving families."