Robin Durrer:1981, Village of Reese (Columbus) Ohio

  


   Robin Marie Durrer was born on October 23rd, 1961 to Rachel and Ronald Durrer. She was a student at Hamilton Township High School in Columbus, Ohio. 


  On Wednesday September 9th, 1981 Robin went out for a quick trip to the store on her ten speed bike. It was evening but still light out. Early September still has long days. Robin was 19 and even though she had some special needs, she knew her way to the store and back. This trip wasn’t unusual. 


  Robin’s neighborhood is called The Village of Reese. It’s in southeast Columbus, Ohio. It’s not far from busy areas of town but looking at it on Google Streetview is like looking at a small town. I couldn’t find the store that Robin was heading toward. It may not be around anymore. 


   When Robin didn’t return her parents began looking for her. 


   Robin was found by her father the next morning. He saw her ten speed bike by the C.& O. railroad tracks that cross Rathmell Road.  He discovered her body a bit further away. The exact location wasn’t described well in the lone article I found about her murder.

  



    Robin was nude. She had been sexually assaulted. Her killer had beaten her with a tree limb and her head injuries were her cause of death. 


    This perpetrator seems like a local young man. He didn’t want to get in trouble for rape. He didn’t want his friends to know he had done this. But he wanted sex. He either didn’t have a car or didn’t want anyone to see Robin in it. I am leaning toward the idea that he didn’t own a car. But, maybe he hung out at that convenience store. He couldn’t take Robin anywhere to do this crime. He couldn’t hide her body far away afterward. 


   He may have lured her away behind the store with some story. Perhaps Robin was a very trusting young woman. He took advantage of her trust. 


   This is one of the worst fears of the parents of children with special needs.  We want them to be independent and to be free to go places. But the fear that someone will prey upon them is always there. Will anyone stand up for them? We all know how cruel the world is. 


    What evidence has been preserved in Robin’s  case? Can anything be tested? What suspects were loose in 1981 when her murder happened?


    If this wasn’t a local perpetrator then I would look at Ralph Richard Howell. If you listen often to the channel you will know that he was a serial killer operating undetected for decades in Ohio. He had a job delivering Cincinnati newspapers in bulk to stores, gas stations and convenience stores all over Ohio. So, he drove all around Ohio in the evening and through the night. He definitely killed Cheryl Thompson. That’s been confirmed through DNA testing. The same cord was used to kill several other young women. (Nancy Ann Theobald, Victoria Hinscher -Uchniat, and others.) Howell almost always strangled his victims and Robin was not strangled.  She was bludgeoned to death. 


   But, this area, The Village of Reese, is somewhat isolated and such a small town sort of place.  I lean toward thinking that this was a local man or teen. It seems like an impulsive and opportunistic assault. 


  Somebody there in that small town must have had ideas about who could have done this. Someone may know right now. Maybe they thought about calling in a tip but they were afraid or worried.  Maybe they heard rumors. Those rumors could provide the lead that investigators need.


   Robin should have been able to ride her bike in peace. She should have been allowed to live her life. When she died she was probably looking forward to her twentieth birthday which was coming up. 

   

   Robin Durrer is buried at Jersey Presbyterian Cemetery in Jersey Township, Pataskala, Ohio. Her mother, Rachel, passed away in 2014 without knowing who killed her daughter. She is buried near Robin at the same cemetery. 


  Rest in peace, Robin.


If you have a tip please use this link:


https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Files/Law-Enforcement/Investigator/Cold-Case/Homicides/Durrer



    


   


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