The 1991 murder of Joy Hibbs, a Bristol Township mother of two whose case remained unsolved for more than 30 years, will be featured in an upcoming episode of NBC’s “Dateline.”
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The episode, titled “Justice for Joy,” is set to air this Friday at 9 p.m. on NBC 10 and later on Hulu.
Joy Hibbs, 35, was found deceased in her family’s Croydon home after a fire in April 1991. Initially believed to be a fire-related death, an autopsy later revealed that Hibbs had been murdered—stabbed, beaten, and possibly strangled—before the fire was set.
The case languished for decades until a resurgence of interest and subsequent investigation led to the 2022 arrest of Robert Francis Atkins, 57, a former neighbor of the Hibbs family.
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In February, Robert Francis Atkins, 57, of Bristol Township’s Fairless Hills section, was found guilty at a bench trial for murder in the first degree and two counts of arson. Atkins was acquitted on other related charges, including burglary and robbery.
Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Judge Wallace Bateman sentenced Atkins, 57, to life in state prison without parole for the murder and 10 to 20 years of additional time for the arson. Atkins was sentenced to life in prison without parole with an additional 15 to 30 years, authorities said.
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Atkins faced the death penalty initially, but the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office withdrew it from consideration after consulting with the victim’s family.
The “Dateline” episode promises interviews with the victim’s family, including Charlie, David, and Angie Hibbs, the convicted killer’s ex-wife April Atkins, local firefighters, and police Sgt. Michael Slaughter.
The investigation into Hibbs’ murder gained national attention, with renewed media coverage over the years from The Huffington Post and The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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According to prosecutors, the murder stemmed from a dispute over a small amount of marijuana sold by Atkins to the Hibbs family, who were described as recreational users.
The case against Atkins featured testimony from his ex-wife, April, who recalled seeing him return home with blood-stained clothing on the day of the murder.
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Charlie Hibbs, the victim’s husband, expressed his grief and anger in court earlier this year, describing Atkins’ actions as “pure evil.”
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Charlie Hibbs told the judge: “Joy was my high school sweetheart, my first love, mother to my children, and the loving soul that kept our family together. The choice he made that day broke our hearts but strengthened us as a family. According to my faith, I am supposed to forgive, and I am finding difficulty in doing so. But I hope that Mr. Atkins lives to be a very old man and thinks about the choices he made that day, and all the things he has missed while spending time incarcerated.”
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“Your actions that day have affected every single decision I now make in my life,” said Angie Hibbs, the daughter of the victim. “I feel like I have to be in control at all times.”
The story of Joy Hibbs’ murder the the case has also been covered in a People Magazine documentary that was done in cooperation with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.
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“Dateline” was present throughout the trial and has conducted extensive interviews in Lower Bucks County for this episode.
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