ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Authorities have identified the woman killed in a devastating act of violence inside her own home as Robyn Jones, a 44-year-old mother whose life was cut short while her children were present. Police say the suspect, Freddie Sawyer, is now in custody and being held without bond on charges including murder and sexual assault.
According to investigators, Jones had invited Sawyer — a man she knew — into her home when the situation took a tragic turn. While music played in the kitchen, Sawyer allegedly pulled a firearm and shot her in the back of the head. Jones died at the scene.
Inside the home at the time of the shooting were Jones’s two 5-year-old children and a 16-year-old, along with another woman. Authorities said Sawyer physically and sexually assaulted the second woman, threatening to kill her if she made a sound. The chilling threats and violence have left the family deeply traumatized.
Police reports indicate that after initially leaving the scene, Sawyer returned, kicked in the door, and destroyed the victim’s phone before fleeing once again. He was later arrested and booked into jail.
Court records show Sawyer was already on probation for drug charges, unlawful use of a weapon, and resisting arrest at the time of the killing. Prosecutors have filed multiple charges against him, including first-degree murder, aggravated sexual assault, and weapons offenses. A judge has denied bond, ordering Sawyer remain in custody while awaiting trial.
The killing has stunned neighbors and left a community searching for answers. Family members and friends remembered Robyn Jones as a caring mother whose devotion to her children was evident in everything she did. “She didn’t deserve this. Those kids didn’t deserve to see this,” one family friend said through tears.
Advocates say the case underscores the urgent need for stronger protections and interventions in domestic violence cases, especially when offenders with violent criminal records remain on probation. Local organizations have already stepped in to provide counseling and support to Jones’s children and to the second woman who survived the attack.
St. Louis police stressed that the investigation remains active, with prosecutors reviewing additional evidence that could lead to more charges. Authorities also reminded the public that resources are available for those facing domestic violence, urging anyone in danger to reach out before situations escalate.
For now, the community is mourning the loss of Robyn Jones — a woman whose life was taken in the place she should have been safest.
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