Robert Scott Froberg, originally from Dayton, Ohio, pled guilty on July 22 in United States District Court to kidnapping and murdering 7-year-old Morgan Violi on July 24, 1996.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Chief Michael Delaney of the Bowling Green Police Department, Robertson County Sheriff Mike Van Dyke, and Commonwealth’s Attorney Kori Beck Bumgarner. For three decades, despite ongoing law enforcement efforts, Morgan’s case remained unsolved until advancements in DNA processing led to a breakthrough using the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), resulting in Froberg’s arrest and conviction.
Froberg’s criminal history includes an armed robbery arrest in Alabama in December 1988 and multiple escapes from custody before the events leading up to Morgan Violi’s death. In May 1996, he attempted to lure another child but was arrested after a short chase. He escaped again from jail on July 16 that year and stole a van before abducting Morgan Violi from Bowling Green on July 24. After attempting but failing to abduct another child at Colony Apartments, Froberg kidnapped Morgan Violi and drove south into Tennessee where he strangled her near a barn off Interstate 65.
Froberg pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping resulting in death. Sentencing is scheduled for November 2 at United States District Court in Bowling Green; if accepted by the court, his plea agreement will result in a life sentence without parole under federal law.
United States Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner said, “It is hard to envision a more egregious crime than the abduction and murder of a 7-year-old child. This evil act left Morgan’s family devastated and began 30 years of unanswered questions and torturing sadness. This evil act also left the parents in our community wondering if this previously unknown predator would strike again. Whose child would he steal next… This defendant’s depravity forever changed Morgan’s family and Bowling Green. Morgan’s abduction has been an open wound in our community for 30 years. Yesterday, Morgan’s family and our Bowling Green community witnessed this defendant admit his horrors and agree to a Life sentence. I am so thankful that my office, along with our incredible law enforcement partners, played an important role in this guilty plea.”
The case was prosecuted by United States Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner with First Assistant United States Attorney Brian Butler and Assistant United States Attorney Kayla Campbell; it was investigated by agencies including the FBI Bowling Green Satellite Office as well as local police departments.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky serves about 2.2 million residents across 53 counties—including Fort Knox and Fort Campbell—prosecutes federal crimes such as those involved here using facilities like federal courthouses throughout Louisville, Owensboro, Bowling Green, Paducah; it also promotes public safety through programs such as Heroin Education Action Team, according to the official website.