The Cape Coral Police Department continues to investigate the city’s most visible unsolved homicides as the 19th anniversary approaches on the murders of Robin Cornell and Lisa Story. In a painful twist of timing, this year’s anniversary falls on Mother’s Day.
The murders have perplexed investigators since May 10, 1990, when an unknown assailant entered Jan Cornell’s home and killed her 11-year-old daughter, Robin, and Jan’s new roommate, 32-year-old Lisa Story. Lisa had just moved in and had agreed to babysit with Robin while Jan visited her boyfriend the night before. Early that morning, Jan Cornell returned to her home at 631 SE 12th Avenue to find her daughter’s naked body lying on the floor of her bedroom. Lisa’s body also was found in her bed. Both victims were suffocated and sexually assaulted.
The double-homicide has been featured twice on America’s Most Wanted, airing on Jan. 21, 2006 and again on July 28, 2007. Two years ago, Cape Police hired a retired New York City detective, Fidel Balan, to investigate this cold case and try to develop any new leads on the murders. Balan was unable to solve the case before the expiration of his contract.
The Cape Police have not given up and are continuing the investigation. Two detectives in the Major Case Unit from the department’s Investigative Services Bureau have been assigned the case. Detective Kurt Grau and Detective Christy Jo Ellis have been tasked with reviewing the case files and continuing to develop leads. The detectives remain optimistic even though a significant amount of time has passed since Robin and Lisa were killed. Several interviews have been conducted recently, and new theories are being explored.
Jan Cornell continues to hold out hope that her daughter’s murder someday will be solved, and she supports the Cape Coral Police Department’s steadfast determination to find the killer. If anyone has any information regarding this case, call the Cape Coral Police Department at (239) 574-3223 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.

Source: Cape Coral Police Department