AFTER 30 YEARS, MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR 1996 KIDNAPPING AND MURDER OF 7-YEAR-OLD KENTUCKY GIRL

BOWLING GREEN, KY. — Nearly three decades after 7-year-old Morgan Violi was kidnapped from her Bowling Green apartment complex and murdered, the man responsible has been sentenced to life in federal prison.

Robert Scott Froberg received the sentence Monday, November 2, 2026, bringing a major development in a case that haunted Morgan's family and the Bowling Green community for 30 years.

Morgan was just 7 years old when she was abducted on July 24, 1996, while playing with her sisters and friends at the Colony Apartments in Bowling Green.

Investigators later determined that Froberg had stolen a maroon Chevrolet van before traveling to Bowling Green. According to court records, he attempted to grab another young girl before taking Morgan and fleeing the area.

Morgan's remains were discovered nearly three months later, on October 20, 1996, in a wooded area near White House, Tennessee.

A COLD CASE FINALLY SOLVED

For decades, the case remained unsolved. Advances in DNA technology eventually helped investigators revisit evidence collected during the original investigation.

A hair recovered from the abandoned van was submitted for additional forensic testing and ultimately linked Froberg to the crime.

Following the DNA breakthrough, investigators interviewed Froberg, who confessed to kidnapping Morgan and strangling her, according to federal authorities.

Froberg pleaded guilty in July 2026 to kidnapping resulting in death.

FAMILY FACES THE MAN RESPONSIBLE

During Monday's sentencing hearing in federal court in Bowling Green, Morgan's parents and sisters delivered emotional statements describing the devastating impact her murder had on their family.

Morgan's father, Glen Violi, spoke directly to Froberg, describing how the loss of his daughter changed their lives forever.

He also discussed the years of suspicion and rumors he faced following Morgan's disappearance, saying the identification of the person responsible finally removed that burden.

Morgan's sisters also addressed the lasting emotional effects of losing their younger sibling, describing the pain, anger and struggles they carried into adulthood.

Froberg addressed the courtroom and expressed sorrow for his actions, asking Morgan's family for forgiveness.

Federal Judge Gregory Stivers acknowledged the devastating impact of the crime, noting that no punishment could adequately account for the harm caused.

LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE

Froberg was sentenced to life in federal prison without the possibility of parole. The sentence will run consecutively to an existing prison sentence he is serving in Alabama.

The sentencing took place just one day before what would have been Morgan's birthday.

Morgan's family hopes she will be remembered for the little girl she was, not simply for the tragedy that took her life. During the hearing, loved ones remembered her as a child who loved singing and animals and dreamed of becoming a veterinarian.

After nearly 30 years of unanswered questions, the case has finally reached its sentencing conclusion.

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