Man pleads guilty to 1996 murder of Bowling Green 7-year-old

A man pleaded guilty at U.S. District Court in Bowling Green to federal charges involving the kidnapping and murder of a young girl 30 years ago.

Kentucky Today posted Monday that Robert Scott Froberg, originally from Dayton, Ohio, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and murdering seven-year-old Morgan Violi in 1996, and agreed to a sentence of life in prison.

For three decades, her kidnapping and murder remained an unsolved crime, but advanced DNA testing led a break in the 30-year cold case.

On April 3, 1996, Froberg escaped from the Alabama Department of Corrections where he was serving time for armed robbery. He fled to Pennsylvania and on May 20, 1996, Froberg attempted to lure a 7-year-old boy into a treehouse. Fortunately, the boy ran to tell his mother. She called law enforcement and Froberg was arrested.

On July 16, 1996, Froberg again escaped and fled to Dayton, Ohio. A week later, he stole a van near his parents’ home and headed toward Alabama. 

In Bowling Green, Froberg grabbed Morgan and fled with the girl on I-65 South, exiting at the White House, Tennessee exit. He pulled over at a nearby barn and strangled Morgan to death. Froberg left her body near the barn and fled from the scene.  

Froberg pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping resulting in death. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2. If the court accepts the plea agreement, Froberg will receive a life sentence. There is no parole in the federal system. 


(Source article on Kentucky Today)