Judge Sentences Man for 1994 Double Murder
A judge in Manhattan expressed harsh criticism on Thursday for Larry Atkinson, a wheelchair-bound man who has spent almost 30 years in prison, following his conviction for the murders of a mother and her daughter in Harlem. The judge accused him of refusing to accept any responsibility and heard Atkinson lamenting that he would likely die behind bars.
Atkinson, who is 67 and in poor health due to cancer, was sentenced to 40 years for killing Sarah Roberts, 57, and her daughter Sharon, 23, who had developmental disabilities. Their bodies were discovered on February 20, 1994, in their apartment at the NYCHA Grant House.
In court, Atkinson remarked, “God be with them in heaven,” before adding that he wasn’t optimistic about living another two years.
He whispered, “God be with me. I don’t think I can make it through two years,” after briefly apologizing for the “two lives lost that day.” However, Judge Althea Drysdale wasn’t swayed by his sudden show of remorse.
Drysdale emphasized that, based on the evidence, it was clear Atkinson bore no sense of accountability for his actions. “This is the first time I’ve heard you show some remorse and say that you’re truly sorry,” she pointed out.
Atkinson’s disturbing behavior included remarks made in October after being found guilty, where he told the jury he was furious and would find the families of the victims, according to Manhattan District Attorney Megan Joy.
The tragic case began to unfold when a home health aide, who had previously dated Atkinson and was caring for Roberts, discovered the pair dead. Reports indicated that Roberts’ oxygen tube and leggings had been used to strangle Sharon. Following a 911 call, police found that there was no sign of forced entry.
Authorities later revealed that a cassette video recorder and cash were missing from the apartment. It wasn’t until 2023 that investigators managed to link Atkinson to the crime through new DNA technology which matched cigarette butts and fingernail clippings found at the scene.
The families of the victims have mourned their loss, recalling the mother and daughter as sources of “light and warmth,” as they sought justice for nearly three decades while living in the same complex where the murders occurred.
Sheniqua Simon, the granddaughter of Sarah Roberts, shared a poignant victim impact statement, noting, “These were vulnerable people. People who needed care and protection. Instead, their lives were taken violently and senselessly.”
Atkinson’s criminal history, which dates back to 1977, includes a 2005 conviction for assaulting a 68-year-old woman in her home, where he threatened her with a knife and used a stocking as a weapon when she tried to resist with a cane.
