FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Erin Maloney, Communications Director
Office of the State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit
(813) 557-3366 | Erin.Maloney@sao13th.com
TAMPA, FL (March 20, 2024) — Abron Scott pleaded guilty today to the gruesome rapes and murders of two Tampa women whose killings remained unsolved for decades. A judge handed down two additional life sentences to Scott, which will be served consecutively. Because Scott is already serving a life prison sentence in an unrelated murder case, he has been sentenced to a total of three consecutive life terms.
Scott pleaded guilty in court today to the 1983 rapes and murders of Barbara Grams, 19, and Linda Lansen, 41. Lansen’s daughter, who was only 7 years old at the time of her mother’s murder, told Scott during her victim impact statement how his heinous actions forever changed the trajectory of her life.
Scott’s codefendant, Amos Robinson, is also charged in both rapes and murders and is currently facing the death penalty if convicted. It was the diligent work of the State Attorney’s Office Conviction Review Unit and the Tampa Police Department that allowed the true killers to be held accountable for their crimes.
During the course of our agency’s Conviction Review Unit work, a Tampa Police Department detective indicated that DNA evidence in the case involving Barbara Grams would likely be available at the Medical Examiner’s Office. This outstanding police work resulted in finding DNA evidence that helped to solve these cases.
Under State Attorney Suzy Lopez, more than 100 cases have been processed by our Conviction Review Unit. In three of those, there was insufficient evidence to sustain a conviction and they were released from prison. Amos Robinson is set to be back in court for a disposition hearing on September 20.