A Troubled Marriage Ends in Tragedy (Image Credits: Unsplash)
Washington County, Oregon – Rhianna Stephens grew up hearing fond stories about her mother from the father who raised her alone, only to face the shock of his arrest decades later for the same woman’s strangulation death.
A Troubled Marriage Ends in Tragedy
Debe Atrops married Bob Atrops in June 1987 after a brief courtship. The couple adopted eight-month-old Rhianna the following March, but tensions soon arose. By summer 1988, Debe had moved to an apartment in Salem, 30 miles away.
She began dating coworker John Pearson while maintaining contact with ex-boyfriend Jeff Freeburg. On November 29, 1988, Debe left a hair appointment in Tigard and vanished. Bob Atrops reported her overdue hours later, prompting a swift missing person investigation.
Two days later, authorities found her body strangled in the trunk of her black Honda Accord at a Beaverton construction site. Mud covered her coat, shoes, a front tire, and the steering wheel. No signs of sexual assault appeared.
Investigators Zero In on the Husband
Early suspicions fell on Bob Atrops. He had called police repeatedly that night but omitted Debe’s new address and never phoned her apartment. Friends recalled Debe’s fears; one testified she predicted, “If anything happens to me, Bob did it.”[1]
A cold case review in 2022 yielded key evidence. FBI analysis linked mud on the tire to soil from Bob’s front lawn. A DNA mixture on Debe’s coat collar – a strangulation contact area – offered moderate support for Bob’s inclusion, excluding others.
Phone records puzzled detectives: three long-distance calls Bob claimed from home did not appear on his bill. His later explanation involving an MCI card rang implausible to prosecutors. In March 2023, authorities arrested him for second-degree murder.
The Daughter’s Fierce Defense
Rhianna Stephens learned of her mother’s death around age six from old photo albums. Her father raised her devotedly, sharing only positive memories. The 2023 arrest call at dawn shattered that world.
“I know my dad. I know his heart,” Stephens told CBS’s 48 Hours. “And I know that he’d never be able to live with himself doing that.”[1]
At Bob’s July 2025 sentencing to life with parole after 25 years, she addressed the judge emotionally. “When I was 8 months old, someone robbed me of getting to have a life with my mom,” she said. “Thirty-six years later, I’m being robbed of my father.”[1]
Defense Highlights Alternative Suspects
Attorneys argued weak evidence doomed Bob. Soil proved common, DNA low-level and transferable. They spotlighted John Pearson, whose semen appeared in autopsy swabs with overwhelming probability.
Pearson knew Debe’s appointment and car details yet claimed the trunk too small for a body. He passed a 1988 polygraph but fled before trial and died by suicide. Prosecutors dismissed him, citing a DUI warrant.
| Suspect | Key Evidence For | Key Evidence Against |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Atrops | Mud match, DNA support, phone discrepancies, wife’s fears | No direct match, common soil |
| John Pearson | Semen DNA, knew details, suicide timing | Passed polygraph, alibi |
| Jeff Freeburg | Recent loan | DNA exclusion, solid alibi |
Key Takeaways
- Mud and DNA linked Bob but fell short of definitive matches.
- Debe’s boyfriend carried strong biological ties to the scene.
- Rhianna’s testimony underscored a loving father-daughter bond.
This saga tore a family apart, leaving Rhianna to grieve a mother she barely knew while championing a father behind bars. As appeals loom, the case raises enduring questions about cold case justice. What do you think about the evidence? Tell us in the comments.
