Commonwealth v. Hagen Lawrence Roberts; Jury Finds Man Guilty of Stabbing Woman to Death and Putting her Body in Toolbox

Virginia Beach, Va. – Colin D. Stolle, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the city of Virginia Beach, announced that Hagen Lawrence Roberts, age 40, was found guilty of First-Degree Murder and Stabbing in the Commission of a Felony after a three-day jury trial. Circuit Court Judge Stephen C. Mahan, who presided over the trial, will sentence Roberts on February 25, 2026.

The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that on October 8, 2020, Virginia Beach police responded to a residence on Green Cedar Lane in the City of Virginia Beach.  The 911 caller advised emergency dispatch that he had taken a shower and was unable to locate his wife, Cynthia Capps, afterwards.  He searched their home and discovered a single drop of blood on their kitchen floor, which prompted him to contact police.  Upon arrival, police searched the residence for Capps and any additional signs of foul play. 

Police were advised that the family rented a room in their home to Hagen Roberts. They attempted to enter Roberts’ bedroom and discovered it was locked.  They breached the door and found Roberts lying on his bed. He appeared to be wet from recently taking a shower and had a cut on his right hand that was wrapped in a black bandana.  Police searched the property and discovered blood stains in the backyard. They found Capps deceased in a toolbox with trauma to her head and face.  An analysis by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Capps had been stabbed over 90 times on the head, face, and neck.  Multiple pieces of forensic evidence were tested and analyzed by the Department of Forensic Science.  A metal shard, which appeared to be the tip of a knife, was removed from Capps’ skull.  Police found a black folding knife with a broken tip covered in dried blood in Hagens’ room, clothes in the outside trashcan covered in blood, and blood stains throughout the home.  An analysis of the metal shard determined that it was a direct match to the folding knife recovered from Roberts’ room.  The DNA of both Capps and Roberts was located on the folding knife, the discarded clothes, and in the blood stains throughout the home.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Thomas J. Wright and Gordon C. Ufkes prosecuted this case. Please contact Macie Allen if additional information is desired.