(New Haven, CT) – John P. Doyle, Jr., State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of New Haven, and New Haven Police Chief David Zannelli today announced that Governor Ned Lamont has authorized a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the 1990 homicide of John Robinson in New Haven. This action rescinds a previously authorized $20,000 reward issued in 1990.
The reward request was submitted by State’s Attorney Doyle, who noted that despite extensive investigative efforts over more than three decades, the case remains unsolved. 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 Mr. Robinson’s family.
Mr. Robinson, born May 10, 1965, was discovered deceased on March 14, 1990, at 178 Temple Street, Suite 208, in New Haven. 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.
Governor Lamont’s authorization of a reward of up to $50,000 reflects a renewed effort to encourage anyone with knowledge about the homicide to come forward. The reward will be paid by order of the court upon conviction of the individual or individuals responsible.
The New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney’s Office is grateful to Governor Lamont for offering this reward and to members of the New Haven Police Department for their work and dedication to this investigation. State’s Attorney Doyle said he hopes the $50,000 reward will bring about new information from people who may know something but have not yet come forward.
“Members of the public should never underestimate the importance of what they know or assume that investigators already have that information,” State’s Attorney 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 1-888-888TIPS or 203-946-6296 or Text “Tips” to 274637.
“We never forget our unsolved cases, and we are grateful to the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, New Haven State’s Attorney Doyle, and the Governor’s Office for their assistance in increasing the dollar amount of this reward in hopes of generating new information to reenergize this investigation,” Chief 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.”