What Happened To Meghan Landowski?
April 11, 2008 by impqueen
UPDATE 10/24/08 – Police have arrested 17-year-old Robert Lee Barnes (MyspaceMySpace
) and charged him with killing Meghan Landowski. He was arrested last night after being interviewed by detectives at Portsmouth police headquarters. He has been charged with first-degree murder.
Portsmouth, VA (April 11, 2008) – Something happened to Meghan Landowski on Thursday, but police aren’t sure what. The 16-year-old sophomore at Portsmouth’s Woodrow Wilson High was seen at school yesterday, but asked at least one friend if she could go to the friend’s house after school. That was odd, said the girl, because usually Meghan wanted her friends to walk home with her, not the other way around.
At about 4:00 p.m. , Meghan’s stepfather arrived home and found Meghan’s body. He called police at 4:09. A neighbor says he watched the stepfather pull in, and that moments later, “there were police cars all over.†Police aren’t releasing the cause of death at this time, but have said that Meghan Landowski was found dead in her home, and that she was murdered.
Police staked out one Portsmouth home for part of Thursday evening. One person identified only as “a witness” spent several hours being questioned Thursday night, but left “on his own” and was never in custody, police say.
Meghan lived in a two-story gray Cape Cod-style home in the city’s Simonsdale section with her mother, her stepfather, and her sister. Her Myspace page is covered in hearts and has pictures of a sweet-looking girl with her little sister, her mother, and her pets. It’s the kind of page parents could see and think, “What a sweet girl.”
With no cause of death yet and no clear suspect, police are going to be busy while Meghan’s family and friends mourn. I’ll update with new information as it becomes available.
UPDATE 5/12/08 – A person of interest is being investigated in the murder of Meghan Landowski. Navy Lieutenant Junior Grade Robert Allen Hicke was questioned by police in the hours after Meghan’s death on April 10. Authorities have now found child pornography on Hicke’s computer, and police documents say that there has been a “prior NCIS investigation involving both LTJG Hicke and the victim.”
I’ll continue to update as more information comes in.
UPDATE 10/24/08 – It now appears that LTJG Hicke is off the hook. It is alleged that Robert Barnes, 16 at the time of the crime, climbed through a bedroom window of the Landowski home. The Churchland High School student then bound Meghan and then stabbed her repeatedly before fleeing on foot. It was also revealed that blood was found at the scene that did not belong to Meghan. He is currently being held without bond in juvenile custody. Prosecutors want him charged as an adult.
5:29 pm on April 11th, 2008
http://www.wavy.com/global/story.asp?s=8150703
Hmm…in the comments section of the above-linked article, several posters have said that she was molested/raped in the past, and that they suspect that man (who apparently has recently been released from jail) returned to kill her for revealing the past assault. Whether that’s true or not, it does seem like she had been through a lot even prior to this. Which really sucks; teenage girls shouldn’t have to worry about anything bigger than whether or not Jimmy is going to ask her to the dance.
7:23 pm on April 11th, 2008
But, unfortunately, more and more often, teenage girls (all minor girls, actually) are having to worry, instead, about whether Chester is going to drag them into a dark room or alley. All child molesters should either be incarcerated for life, or executed. That’s the only sure way to prevent them from offending again. I hope they catch this girl’s killer, and when they do, I hope they let the girl’s parents have a go at him before the execution. I know that will never happen, but I can still hope, can’t I?
7:44 pm on April 11th, 2008
I wish Mehgan had told someone with authority that she was afraid for her life. =(
7:53 pm on April 11th, 2008
Wow, this sucks. I am really anxious to see what happened to this young lady.
9:52 pm on April 11th, 2008
Is this going to be a Laura Palmer expose, as more info comes to light? or a murder closer to home? Poor Meghan and her family – what a callous waste of possibilities.
10:09 am on April 13th, 2008
Reading in another forum they say she was stabbed to death and one post claimed that she was suppose to testify against a friend of her biological father the next day. Police haven’t confirmed anything though.
5:47 pm on April 14th, 2008
Police are asking for the public’s help to find Meghan’s killer. Anyone with any information at all, no matter how small, is asked to call 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
Link: http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/stories/wvec_local_041408_vb_murder_teen.63af9061.html
5:50 pm on April 14th, 2008
So they’ve definitely ruled out the stepdad and the bio-dad’s friend? Do they have ANY leads?
6:10 pm on April 14th, 2008
I believe the stepdad was ruled out based on his alibis – he accounted for when he left work and when he arrived home, and had eyewitnesses to verify. I don’t know about any other suspects at this time.
1:20 am on April 20th, 2008
Memorial Service for Meghan Landowski
April 17th, 2008 · No Comments · Crime, Police, Portsmouth
A memorial service for Meghan Landowski (see here, and here) has been scheduled. I received the following information from Mr. Dennis Gilbert of Tesoro Corporation:
I would like to provide the information, directions, etc. for the Memorial Service schedule Saturday, April 19th, for Meghan Landowski.
A 1:00 pm service is available to the public.
Address:
Pine Crest Baptist Church
209 Felton Road
Portsmouth, VA 23701
http://morningbrew.sdwhiteonline.com/2008/04/17/memorial-service-for-meghan-landowski/
Fund set up for Meghan Landowski by Tesoro Corporation
April 11th, 2008 · 1 Comment · Crime, Police, Portsmouth
Mr. Daniel Dennis Gilbert, President of Tesoro Corporation contacted me regarding Meghan Landowski and her family.
Tesoro Corporation has set up a memorial fund to help the family (more in a bit) get through this incredibly difficult time.
Make donations at any Suntrust Bank:
Suntrust Bank
Meghan Landowski Memorial Fund
The point of contact for questions is Gloria Harris, 757-518-8491
I spoke with Mr. Finefrock, the Controller at Tesoro Corporation on the phone this afternoon. The family has moved out of their home (understandably) and are living in temporary lodging. This all costs money.
Mr. Finefrock assured me that Meghan’s mom, Angie, will not miss a paycheck while she is out. This is incredibly generous of the company and warrants huge “kudosâ€. The family will still need financial help getting through this.
I can not imagine the pain this family is going through. If you can help, either by donation or helping to spread the word about the fund it would be greatly appreciated.
http://morningbrew.sdwhiteonline.com/2008/04/11/fund-set-up-for-meghan-landowski-by-tesoro-corporation/
more comments
http://morningbrew.sdwhiteonline.com/2008/04/11/16-year-old-killed-in-her-home/
1:25 am on April 20th, 2008
Meghan Landowski Tribute:
http://respectance.com/Meghan/memorial
12:33 pm on May 2nd, 2008
April 22, 2008 PORTSMOUTH – Police have remained quiet about their investigation into the death of a Portsmouth teen in her home earlier this month, but the case has become a hot button topic for Internet rumors.
Meghan Landowski, a 16-year-old student at Woodrow Wilson High School, was found dead in her family’s home on Roberts Court West on April 10. Police and Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) brought a man in for questioning and released him, identifying him only as “a person of interest” to the case.
Police spokeswoman Jan Westerbeck said detectives are not releasing any information about the cause of death or any potential suspects. She acknowledged that “a piece of evidence” was found last week in a storm drain near the family’s home. Westerbeck identified it as “an object” but said it could not be connected to the case or identified as a weapon until it had been examined.
The case has sparked lengthy discussions on several online sites, where friends, acquaintances and strangers have traded a wide variety of rumors about who killed Landowski, how and why she was killed, and what her frame of mind was on the day of her death. As the speculation and rumors have continued to grow and built upon themselves, Westerbeck said they have not hampered or distracted the detectives.
“The investigators have remained objective and they continue to look for facts,” Westerbeck said.
11:16 am on May 12th, 2008
“Navy man questioned in teen’s death investigated for child pornography”
http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/stories/wvec_local_050908_landowski_child_porn_.e4e01ef3.html
“NORFOLK — A Navy man questioned the night after a Portsmouth teen’s death is under investigation for child pornography.
On April 10th, Meghan Landowski’s step-father found her body inside their Roberts Court home. Hours later, police took LTJG Robert Allen Hicke into custody for questioning.
A court document obtained by 13News says Hicke was considered a “person of interest” in the homicide of Landowski. The document adds there had been a “prior NCIS investigation involving both LTJG Hicke and the victim.”
The document says NCIS forensic examiners searched electronic media seized from Hicke’s home and found images of child pornography.”
12:29 pm on May 12th, 2008
So sad…wonder what is the connection between her & the Lt?! And where did the info come from she was molested/assaulted before???
2:14 pm on May 12th, 2008
I hadn’t heard about previous molestations/assaults either. I think it was on another blog.
2:28 pm on May 12th, 2008
It was brought up in our forums, but also in some news report comments from people closer to the case (see comment #1). We also did get contacted with some of that information, but due to the lack of a suspect, I didn’t publish it until we had a little more to go on.
2:48 pm on May 12th, 2008
Video here with the Navy man: http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/stories/wvec_local_050908_landowski_child_porn_.e4e01ef3.html
11:57 am on October 24th, 2008
Please pray for the family. They’ll need all the support they can get with what has happened & what they have yet to endure.
12:05 pm on October 24th, 2008
I read that the accused new Meghan, but they are not releasing in what capacity.
12:14 pm on October 24th, 2008
Updated story. The accused has been named in court papers.
12:55 pm on October 24th, 2008
Poor girl. I’m so happy they have found the POS who did this to her. I will pray for strength and some sort of peace for her family……
12:57 pm on October 24th, 2008
Okay. I’m new at this but i looked up the name and found that a Robert Barnes is named as the person who killed her. How sad….she seemed like a sweet girl…oh, and i found a myspace for him it is (link redacted)
1:01 pm on October 24th, 2008
why don’t my comments post!!! this is the second time doing this. again, i am new at this and am wondering if it’s cause i’m new….they said his name is robert barnes…how sad..they didn’t even go to school together… i found a myspace for him and i’m wondering now what the hell he was thinking at the time
1:19 pm on October 24th, 2008
Your comment didn’t post because our spam filter thought you were a spammer…particularly because you posted a link. If it happens again, don’t sweat it, we will get it eventually and push it on through to the other side.
1:22 pm on October 24th, 2008
now i feel dumb…thanks for the info though.
1:29 pm on October 24th, 2008
Man, if that’s really his myspace, he seems like a nice band geek kind of kid. Plays the violin and has a friend asking him about chamber music camp next summer. He just turned 17 on Oct 19.
It’ll be interesting to see if there really was any connection between them, or what. How fucking tragic.
3:27 pm on October 24th, 2008
Hey PenelopeJo, did you stop to think that there could be more than one Robert Barnes that goes to Churchland High School. You just linked a friend of mine to this website without thinking. What if another Robert Barnes did it? And yeah, Robert L. Barnes does go to Churchland High School and yes he is in the Band. Next time you do something like that, think before you do that.
And on a lighter note to the more intelligent of the users here: Meghan went to Churchland High School for her Freshman Year. I knew her. And she was a very sweet girl.
3:33 pm on October 24th, 2008
so, is there another robert barnes who is 17 and goes to churchland high with you since you say that it might not be your friend. i mean in this day and age most 17 year olds have a myspace. so please enlighten me. it would be a rather weird coincidence wouldn’t it.
3:39 pm on October 24th, 2008
Yes there is a second Robert Barnes at Churchland who is 17.
As for the MySpace thing, I don’t. Too many rapists and pedophiles and stupid people for me. You shouldn’t have posted that web address.
Do you have any idea what may happen to him? If maybe her friends see this and decide to take revenge? You didn’t did you?
3:42 pm on October 24th, 2008
well, if it’s true then my mistake but like i said before that’s kind of weird. and do you really think that they will take revenge knowing full well that it is not him. do you imagine him getting beat up while the real guy is in jail for this girls death.
3:46 pm on October 24th, 2008
Stranger things have happened. If you could try to remove it, I would be grateful. Just try to do more research before you “out” someone like that. OK?
3:52 pm on October 24th, 2008
If the link is incorrect, all your friend has to do is set his myspace to private. If he’s not in jail for murder, that is.
4:22 pm on October 24th, 2008
NO, i’m not taking it off. i have another link that says it’s him . until i find proof or you show me proof that it is not him. the article states that even his friends are shocked that he did it so i have my proof. show me yours.
http://www.wvec.com/news/portsmouth/stories/wvec_local_102408_landowski_update_.143c3520d.html
4:26 pm on October 24th, 2008
Look, kiddo – “Robert Barnes” is not so common a name that anyone would assume there might be more than one of the same age in a single school. While stranger things HAVE happened, you don’t talk so condescendingly to people who neglected to consider a possibility with such astronomical odds.
If it is verified that this is, indeed, the incorrect Robert Barnes whose MySpace is linked, I’m sure someone will go in and make the necessary adjustments. In the meantime, don’t be such a drama queen. Nothing’s going to happen to your buddy as the result of a link posted, erroneously or otherwise, on this site, even if “stranger things have happened”.
4:30 pm on October 24th, 2008
trying to get a link posted about how i have the correct robert barnes and about how his classmates can’t believe he did it. so when it does show up, then i have my proof.
4:35 pm on October 24th, 2008
Maybe if you read the rest of my comments, you would know that there are in fact two Robert Barnes’ at Churchland High School.
And to PenelopeJo, I’m not saying that he did or didn’t do it. All I’m saying is that there is more than one at the school.
4:41 pm on October 24th, 2008
i know your not saying that but you practically called me stupid by stating the following:
And on a lighter note to the more intelligent of the users here: Meghan went to Churchland High School for her Freshman Year. I knew her. And she was a very sweet girl.
the article i’m trying to get posted stated that he knew meghan and they were really good friends before she transferred. so, are you going to tell me next that they both knew her?
4:48 pm on October 24th, 2008
well, here’s the article…i guess i’m still considered a spammer.
The Latest: 17-year-old charged with killing Portsmouth teen
04:04 PM EDT on Friday, October 24, 2008
By 13News
PORTSMOUTH — Police have charged a 17-year-old boy with the murder of 16-year-old Meghan Landowski.
“It does not close the case,†said Assistant Chief Garrett Shelton. “This is still a very active investigation.”
Landowski, who attended Wilson High School, was found stabbed to death in her Roberts Court home on April 10.
The teen suspect attends Churchland High School and was arrested Thursday night after eight or nine hours talking with police.
13News’ partners at the Pilot report his name is Robert Barnes.
A Churchland student told 13News on Friday that Landowski and Barnes were good friends when they attended Churchland. The student says Landowski transferred to Wilson the school year before she was killed.
“We don’t believe it was a stranger occurrance,” the chief added but didn’t elaborate except to say, “They are acquainted with each other, the investigation indicates.â€
Shelton stated, “We’re confident the indivisual is a primary offender in this case.”
Commonwealth’s Attorney Earle Mobley, also at the news conference, said he wants the teen tried as an adult. The suspect was arraigned Friday morning and remains in jail until his next hearing on November 12.
Documents filed in juvenile court indicate that the boy climbed through a bedroom window of Landowski’s home, then bound and stabbed her several times before running away.
Two Churchland students who know Barnes well told 13News they’re shocked at his arrest.
“From the beginning, we’ve canvassed neighborhoods, schools, done a lot of old-style police work, talking with hundreds of people. And based on those contacts, we were able to develop the information that led us to the arrest. Shelton added.
Investigators have obtained warrants to search medical record at a Norfolk and Portsmouth hospital in hopes of finding someone who may have been treated for injuries during that time frame. They’re still waiting for all the information.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
but the most important part that i want you guys to see is there is a pic of him….. so i guess this doesn’t necessarily help…
4:57 pm on October 24th, 2008
I just read the article on PilotOnline.com It states that it is in fact my friend who has been charged with murder.
I called you stupid because you didn’t check your facts before putting that up. I am correct about there being two Robert Barnes’. I apologize if I slandered you in any way.
I just didn’t want my friend being “wrongly castrated” for something he didn’t do. It was a shock to find out.
5:02 pm on October 24th, 2008
thanks for the apology. it’s cool…to me stupid is an endearing word in my family…so i don’t really take it personal. i just don’t like being told i’m wrong when i know i’m right, that is what i take offense to.
5:25 pm on October 24th, 2008
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i am shocked the cops didnt piont out in the paper/report that there are 2 robert barnes,the murder trial we just came out of there are 3 men in the city named exactly same name(middle included) so when i was called into questioning by the cops and lawyers later on they were using birthdates to keep the innocent 2 from being named as guilty
5:29 pm on October 24th, 2008
I want to know what took so long to arrest this kid. All this time, and he’s managed to conceal from everyone that he tied up and killed a girl?
5:30 pm on October 24th, 2008
Shelton was drunk while being interviewed?
5:44 pm on October 24th, 2008
And its shit like this that is the reason i walk female friends to their houses and cars when any suspicion is visible, its dickless pieces of shit that do this sort of thing to women, and whether or not alcohol was involved, this is still quite disturbing. My prayers go to her father and mother who had to come home from either running errands or a hard days work only to find their innocent child slain by the worthless prick.
5:51 pm on October 24th, 2008
Hey, Megadeth! Haven’t seen you for awhile – glad you’re here
5:57 pm on October 24th, 2008
Boy, you’re rather undeservingly self-rightous, aren’t you? I did read your comments – all of them. That’s how I knew you you were being a little shit for no good reason. I’ll spell it out for you:
Ms. Penelope, or anyone, for that matter, would have absolutely no reason to think that there might be two young men of the same age with the same name in a single school. It’s just not a probable occurrence. So, to berate her for not considering this possibility is ridiculous. It’s simply not natural to account for such off-chance occurrences. I see the school is a magnet school with some fairly high standards for graduation and such. I expect you to grasp this concept now that I’ve illustrated it for the second time.
It’s good that you apologized, and I highly recommend you use a bit more diplomacy the next time you intend to correct what you believe to be someone’s honest mistake.
6:16 pm on October 24th, 2008
i no robert. i go 2 chs with him. i go to govornor’s school were he plays violin. i have his phone#. he is a sweet innocent sensative person. the is no way on earth or hell he could of killed that girl
6:17 pm on October 24th, 2008
I smell Athena’s whip crackin’ and it smells like crunchy bacon. Mmm Mmm good!
6:21 pm on October 24th, 2008
WOW! You have his PHONE NUMBER? No SHIT? That clinches it. He could not POSSIBLY have killed this girl!
I thought magnet schools were for smart kids.
6:24 pm on October 24th, 2008
Yeah, by that post alone, I am envisioning a school of hunchbacks who regularly slip in the hallways because of their own drool, who gleefully wait in line every hour to pull a rope to ring a big bell.
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