Denise Bernice Robinson

A woman is found murdered in a wooded area
In the autumn of 1992, a family in Greensboro, North Carolina, was left to mourn a daughter they loved, one who had remained close to them even as she struggled. Denise Bernice Robinson, a 22-year-old African-American woman, was living a life shadowed by fear. Though details of her daily life are scarce, news reports from the time suggest she was a troubled soul, caught between the pull of the streets and the embrace of her family. Her life was tragically cut short just six days before she would have turned 23.

On Tuesday, September 22, 1992, Denise’s body was discovered in a wooded area near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and East McCullough Street. The grim finding prompted an immediate response from the Greensboro Police Department. Investigators who arrived at the scene quickly determined that she had not died of natural causes, and her death was officially ruled a homicide. While the exact cause of her death has not been publicly detailed, the nature of the crime sent a chill through a community that was already on edge.

The investigation into Denise’s murder was complicated and took place during a period of heightened fear in Greensboro. Between 1991 and 1993, a series of women were murdered in the city, their cases sharing disturbing similarities. Denise’s death was soon viewed by investigators through the lens of these other killings. The location where her body was found, her age, and the timing of her death all caused law enforcement to explore a possible connection to the other homicides that had plagued the area.

A prime suspect emerged in Denise’s case and others: Robert Sylvester Alston, a serial killer who was active in Greensboro during that time. Alston was eventually convicted for the rape and murder of at least four other women, whose bodies were often left in circumstances similar to Denise's. Investigators strongly suspected Alston was responsible for Denise's death as well, considering him the main person of interest. However, despite their suspicions and the connections between the crimes, he was never formally charged with the murder of Denise Bernice Robinson. Alston is serving multiple life sentences for the crimes he was convicted of, but has never been brought to justice for Denise's slaying.

In the days following the discovery of her body, those who knew Denise were left with only questions and grief. A local newspaper headline captured the sorrow, stating, "HER FAMILY MOURNS A TROUBLED DAUGHTER." Another article, titled "FEARFULLY, SHE WALKED THE STREETS," indicated that Denise was aware of the dangers she faced. She was laid to rest at Piedmont Memorial Park in Greensboro, her life a painful story of what could have been.

Decades have passed, but the murder of Denise Bernice Robinson remains officially unsolved. The Greensboro Police Department and Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers continue to list her case as an open homicide, a cold case waiting for the one piece of information that could finally close the file. No arrests have ever been made, and the questions surrounding that September day in 1992 linger. For a family that lost a daughter, and for a community that seeks answers, the hope for justice endures. Anyone with information regarding the homicide of Denise Bernice Robinson is encouraged to contact the Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers.