Stay on the Phone - The Murder of Robin Jenkins

Episode #28 - Robin Jenkins

Robin Jenkins and David Frostick had a troubled relationship even before they were in Las Vegas, where they moved in 2009 for a fresh start and to help Robin continue and expand her music career. It didn't end up helping, and shortly after moving here, Robin took out a restraining order against Frostick

The judge and her family were both shocked and confused when just a month later, she went back to court to have the order lifted. It would turn out to be a fatal mistake. Just 6 days later, Frostick murdered her.. On Mother’s Day.

[Shaun] 

Hi and welcome to Sins and Survivors, a Las Vegas true crime podcast, where we focus on cases that deal with domestic violence and missing persons. I’m your host, Shaun, and with me as always, is the one and only John.

[John] 

I am the only John in the room.

[Shaun] 

One of the things we know about being in an abusive relationship is that it can be hard to leave for a variety of reasons. Abusers can exert control over their victims in a lot of ways, some more obvious than others. They might control the couple’s finances putting the victim in a position where they feel trapped and unable to make it on their own 

It's also common knowledge that the most dangerous time for a domestic violence victim is after they leave the relationship so that can be daunting as well.

Do you want to get us started talking about Robin Jenkins?

[John] 

Sure.

Robin Lesly Jenkins was born on December 7th, 1963 in San Antonio, Texas. Her family moved to Santa Rosa, CA, and that’s where Robin called home. She lived there for most of her young life, and graduated in 1982 from Mongomery High School 

She has a half-brother Jay Smith and another brother Rene Jenkins. Her dad,  Victor Jenkins had remarried a woman named Carolynn Ranch. 

Her mom Gloria Jenkins died in 2008.

She had a large extended family too, including aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Robin loved to sing, and her friends often called her “Rockin’ Robin”. She had a great voice, and according to an interview with her friends, she loved belting out 80’s tunes from artists like Pat Benetar

Here’s a quote from her family “Robin lived to sing, and her spirit and voice were an inspiration to many people. If there was a dull moment in any gathering, Robin could be counted on to liven it up. Although physically small, her presence, her love and her laughter would fill any room.”

Her memorial page has a very long list of memories her friends and former classmates have added. She was well-loved

[Shaun] 

David Frostick also grew up in Santa Rosa and worked in construction there. A search of the California court records system turned up several arrests dating back to 2004 including Two DUI charges in March of 2004 just 10 days apart, then 3 months later, in June, he was arrested for driving with a suspended license.

A year later in August of 2005, he was arrested for “false identification to a peace officer” , then again in November for the same thing, then finally, in 2008 he was arrested for obstructing or resisting a peace officer. He definitely had his share of run-ins with the law.

Although they both graduated from Montgomery High School the same year, it’s unclear if the two knew each other back then, but eventually, they met and started dating sometime in 2007.

As you have probably come to expect, David was arrested for domestic battery. We couldn't find the specific court records for that charge, but we’re not aware of him having spent time in jail for that at the time., so it was likely a misdemeanor.

[John] 

Robin and David moved to Las Vegas in 2009 ostensibly as a way to “start over in a new place” but it seems clear he must have been pretty well known to the Santa Rosa police by that time so he was likely very happy to put Santa Rosa in the rearview.

Robin was hoping to jump-start her music career here (and what better place for that is there than Las Vegas?) He was working construction here, and she was working at a PF Changs as a day job, but she was really hoping foe her music career to happen.

Shortly after they moved here though, she applied for and was granted a one-year TPO (Temporary Restraining Order) against David mandating that he was not to contact her, or come by her home without a police officer present

As we mentioned at the beginning of the episode though, just a month after the TPO was issued, she went BACK to court to have it dissolved. No one knows why, and her family talked in an interview how they were all against the reversal, and even the judge was surprised based on the court transcripts. The judge asked her if she was dissolving the TPO of her own free will, and she said yes.

[Shaun] 

It seems a lot like everyone who knew Robin and David knew what was going on in the relationship and that there was some domestic abuse happening.

During the trial. A neighbor named Michael Garland told a wild story about an interaction he had with David. He recounted that he walked up to David and told him that he knew what was happening, and about the abuse. He told David that if it continues “we’re going to have a problem”

From what Garland said, Frostick’s reaction was very strange. He said that David screamed “like a little kid” and then just took off running down the street

Garland, when asked what he thought about that just said that it was “comical” for a man to act that way but in reality, Frostick’s irrational behavior went back at least 10 years

[John] 

Robin’s family members have said that Robin had recently broken off her engagement with David, which immediately makes this seem all too familiar. We’ve said many times the most dangerous time for a woman in a DV situation is when she’s planning to leave or is in the process of leaving. Women are MUCH more likely to be harmed or murdered in this time.

On Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10th, 2009 Robin was on the phone with her Dad, Victor, having a glass of wine. According to Victor, she was letting him know that things weren't going well with David. She told her dad “Well things have been better”.

Vic asked her “is he there with you right now?” to which she answered “Yes”.  He said in court he could tell she was frightened of David because she asked Vic to stay on the phone with her, and he could tell something was wrong by the way she answered.

Vic testified that he heard Robin say “Put that down” and then he heard signs of a struggle, and a scream that he described as a ”shriek”. When pressed, he said that it was a horrible sound that he’ll never forget.

Panicked, Vic immediately called out to his son Jay, (Robin’s half-brother), and told him “Something happened to Robin”

Jay called Las Vegas Metro and explained the situation and asked them to go to the house that Robin and David shared at 9506 Swan Bay Drive and do a wellness check

[Shaun] 

David P Coyne (coin)  was the officer that responded to the call. When he got to the home it was obvious something was very wrong.. He testified that he saw a large amount of blood in front of the house, just outside the door. 

In the court proceedings, it came out that there was strong evidence that Robin fought back until the end, and was actually able to make it outside, likely crawling... only to be grabbed by the ankles and dragged back inside the house by Frostick

Coyne kicked in the locked door and found Robin on the floor in a pool of blood, then called out for whoever was in there to come out.

Officer Coyne said that Frostick peeked around the corner and then came out holding the 7” bloody kitchen knife, the murder weapon, and let go of it so it hit the floor where it was recovered and taken into evidence.

From Coyne’s testimony, two things stood out. The first is that there was somewhat of a struggle for Coyne to get Frostick under control. Frostick had a history of defying the police and it continued here. The other thing was that after he was handcuffed, FRostic kept repeating “im sorry…. Im sorry”.

As Officer Coyne brought the now handcuffed Frostick outside, the two slipped on the blood and fell down, which had the effect in the trial of allowing the defense to make wild accusations about how the blood covering Frostick might have actually transferred onto him from Coyne. 

It’s pretty absurd when you see the small amount of blood Coyne had on his uniform, vs how Frostick was covered.

[John] 

Once Frostick was secured, Coyne went back and attempted to administer first aid and CPR on Robin until the paramedics arrived, but it was too late.

Weirdly, when the defense attorney was cross-examining Coyne, they asked about the interview he had with the police. The attorney asked, “Isn't it true that you told investigators that Frostick didn't have any blood on him when you first saw him?”  It's unclear why, but Coyne answered yes, without any other context.

That’s all pretty strange given the sheer volume of blood Frostick had on him in the photos taken at the scene, but it could have just appeared that way in the darker house.

Frostick was charged with first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon after being taken into custody.

The police called Jay back at 2 am and told him that Robin was gone, and that David was in custody.

[Shaun] 

Unbelievably, David was able to delay the trial for a shocking 7 years, and during that time, he was in jail of course, but Robin’s family had absolutely no closure or comfort during that time because of the possibility of him somehow being acquitted in the eventual trial. They all were interviewed about that and agreed it was just agonizing for them 

Frostick delayed the trial using a variety of means.. Anything really, to delay delay delay.. A couple of examples of some filings he or his lawyer made to the trial include

• Attempting to have his counsel removed due to “irreconcilable differences”
• Opposing the jury questionnaire
• Opposing bringing Frostick’s other “wrongs or acts” into the case.
• And on and on

The prosecution was led by Frank Coumou from the Las Vegas DA’s office, who put on a strong case, which was made much easier by the evidence collected at the scene. Coumou was very dramatic and passionate in describing the scene, and what it takes for someone to stab someone they’re close to.

Of course, he pointed out that when Frostick walked out, he was holding the murder weapon in his hands, covered in Robin’s blood, and he himself was also covered in blood. There was no evidence of anyone else having been in the home, no evidence of any forced entry, and no assertion that the crime might have been committed by someone else.

He also argued that the fact the Frostick kept apologizing over and over indicated that he had a guilty conscience.

As for the defense, there wasn't really a meaningful defense.. Because there IS no defense given the facts. 

They argued that he couldn't have premeditated the murder because he was drunk, which didn't sway the jury, and they argued that the scene was contaminated by the crime scene investigators tracking Robin’s blood into the house as they secured the scene.

Frostick did not exercise his right to testify in his own defense. That fact alone cannot be used to assume guilt for the jury, but standing outside of the case it certainly seems weird that if he were innocent he wouldnt want to plead his case.

The jury came back in only 3 hours and delivered a verdict of guilty of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon

[John] 

After the conviction, Robin’s family was allowed to read victim impact statements. 

Victim impact statements are an important part of the criminal justice system. When the family of the victim are called to testify they dont have the freedom to express anything about the case other than answering the questions presented to them. After sentencing Victim Impact statement address this in a few ways.

• They allow the victims or their friends or family to feel empoweredaand regain a sense of control over their own narrative. It allows them to express their feelings, concerns, and the impact of the crime on their lives.

• Judges use victim impact statements to understand the emotional, physical, and financial impact of the crime on the victim and their families. This information can influence sentencing decisions, including the type and severity of punishment imposed on the offender.

• Victim impact statements humanize the victim, moving beyond legalities to convey the real-life consequences of the crime. This helps judges, juries, and other participants in the legal process to see the person behind the crime statistics. So often in these cases, it just becomes a litany of facts without any real connection to the humanity of the victim

• It allows victims to express their needs for restitution, apology, and closure. It provides an opportunity for offenders to understand the harm they have caused and take responsibility for their actions.

Jay’s victim impact statement was rudely interrupted by the defense who argued he wasn't responding to the specific question put before him which was “How has the loss of your sister affected you?”.

After the victim impact statements, Frostick was given the opportunity to give an allocution statement

An allocution statement is a statement made by a defendant in a criminal case during the sentencing phase, typically after being found guilty or entering a plea deal. It's an opportunity for the defendant to address the court directly, expressing remorse, taking responsibility for their actions, and sometimes providing context or mitigating factors. In this case, David never got to address the court so this was his one opportunity to address them and possibly get a lighter sentence.

The main purpose of allocution statements is to allow defendants to speak for themselves and offer insight into their character, motivations, and remorse. It's a fundamental aspect of due process, as it ensures that defendants have a voice in their sentencing and can potentially influence the outcome.

Judges look for several things in allocution statements:

1. **Remorse:** Judges assess whether the defendant shows genuine remorse for their actions. Expressing regret and acknowledging the harm caused can weigh positively in the sentencing decision.

2. **Acceptance of Responsibility:** Taking responsibility for one's actions is important in allocution statements. Defendants who admit guilt and show a willingness to face the consequences can receive more lenient sentences.

3. **Insight and Reflection:** Judges appreciate when defendants offer insights into their actions, motivations, and any contributing factors. This can help judges understand the context of the crime and make a more informed sentencing decision.

4. **Apology:** A sincere apology to the victims or their families can be powerful in an allocution statement. It demonstrates empathy and recognition of the harm inflicted, which can influence the judge's perception of the defendant's character.

5. **Mitigating Factors:** Defendants may use allocution to present mitigating factors such as mental health issues, addiction, or extenuating circumstances that contributed to their actions. Judges consider these factors when determining an appropriate sentence.

When David was offered his chance to speak he said he was going to “take the jury on a little journey” in which he essentially just made excuses and portrayed himself as the victim for 20 minutes

He told Robin’s family that he’d had a religious conversion just two convenient weeks after he murdered Robin. He laid it on THICK in an effort to portray himself as having seen the light and being deserving of a light sentence.

Given David’s past, you might guess that there’s more to this story.

After the conviction but before the sentencing (only 5 days after the verdict!), David attacked a corrections officer pretty brutally. The thing that incited the attack was the officer telling him to take a toothbrush out of his mouth

[Shaun] 

Even worse for David, there was surveillance video showing everything that happened, with sound. David can be seen choking the guard with his legs and hitting him with various items in the room. This earned Frostic a brand new case where he was accused of attempted murder with a deadly weapon and battery with a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm. 

When it came to sentencing the Judge pointed out that it was pretty obvious that the claims of being reformed and finding religion seemed to be complete fabrications.

The judge sentenced David to life with the possibility of parole after 20 years served with 8-20 years for the deadly weapon enhancement and was also able to add 8 more years because of the other pending trials and charges, and he got credit for 2734 days served. Interestingly after delaying the second case of attempted murder on the corrections officer using similar tactics (not for nearly as long), Frostick pled guilty but was only sentenced to time served, so no additional time came out of that case

[John] 

In his appeal, David of course made several claims aimed at getting his conviction overturned. He pointed to 3 items in particular including 

• Admission of hearsay evidence - They claimed that during her father’s testimony when he told the jury that he asked “is he there with you now” and she answered “yes” this wasn't established properly as an exception to the hearsay rule, and of course that put him at the scene of the crime. The court rejected this because her answer was a direct response to her immediate surroundings.

• Secondly, the Admission of a “gruesome photo” in which the jury was shown. The court ruled that it was relevant in that it showed her cause of death

• The assertion that the jury should have been told that “voluntary intoxication” might have negated his intent.. meaning he was so drunk he couldn't have planned the murder or had agency, and so a first-degree murder conviction should be overturned. The court rejected this with no evidence the intoxication affected his mental state

The appeal was rejected, and David is where he needs to be.. Serving at least 28 years in the High Desert State Prison in Nevada. He’s 61 years old now so it's likely he will not get out in his lifetime

We also learned that her dad Victor died in 2021 at age 83. The only bright side is that at least he lived to see his daughter’s murderer put in jail for the rest of his life, and he got closure. He said on several occasions he was working toward forgiving David, and the system that took so long to get Robin the justice she deserved.

[Shaun] 

Robin’s family had a celebration of life for her just after she died long before the trial, and requested that donations be sent in her name to the Santa Rosa YWCA Domestic Violence Program, and an employee of the YWCA wrote on Robin’s memorial page said they received quite a few donations from those who cared about her.

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We’ll continue the conversation on this week’s Swing Shift overtime episode now. If you want to hear that and also get ad-free episodes, you can either join our Patreon at sinspod.co/patreon or you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts at sinspod.co/apple

So we encourage people in a similar situation to say something, speak out, and keep trying because the alternative can be unthinkable, and as we remind you every week.. What happens here happens everywhere.