Man Accused in 1996 Kidnapping of Morgan Violi Brought to Kentucky

Robert Scott Froberg will make his first court appearance later this month for the crime that resulted in the 7-year-old's death.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 5:00am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a single piece of physical evidence related to the Morgan Violi kidnapping case, such as a car seat fiber or a discarded item, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the gritty, investigative nature of this decades-old crime.A forensic investigation into the long-unsolved kidnapping of Morgan Violi uncovers a key piece of physical evidence that finally leads to a suspect.Bowling Green Today

The man accused of kidnapping and killing 7-year-old Morgan Violi in 1996 has been brought to Kentucky to face charges. Robert Scott Froberg, 61, was booked into the Grayson County Detention Center on Wednesday and is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Bowling Green on April 21 for his initial appearance and arraignment.

Why it matters

The Violi case has remained unsolved for nearly 30 years, and Froberg's extradition to Kentucky marks a significant development in the long-running investigation. The kidnapping and murder of a young child shook the Bowling Green community, and this case has been a top priority for local and federal law enforcement for decades.

The details

Froberg is accused of abducting Morgan from the parking lot of her apartment complex on July 23, 1996. Her body was found three months later in a wooded area in White House, Tennessee. Authorities say DNA evidence and a confession from Froberg link him to the crime. Froberg had previously been convicted of armed robbery in Alabama and had escaped custody multiple times before the Violi incident.

  • On July 23, 1996, Morgan Violi was abducted from a parking lot in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
  • On October 20, 1996, Morgan's body was found in a wooded area in White House, Tennessee.
  • In 1997, the FBI confirmed a fiber found in Morgan's hair matched the seat cushion of the van used in the abduction.
  • Earlier this year, DNA evidence and a confession from Froberg tied him to the crime.
  • On April 21, 2026, Froberg will make his initial court appearance in Bowling Green.

The players

Robert Scott Froberg

A 61-year-old man accused of kidnapping and killing 7-year-old Morgan Violi in 1996. Froberg had a prior conviction for armed robbery in Alabama and had escaped custody multiple times before the Violi incident.

Morgan Violi

A 7-year-old girl who was abducted from a parking lot in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 1996. Her body was found three months later in a wooded area in Tennessee.

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What they’re saying

“We must finally bring justice for Morgan and her family after all these years.”

— Robert Jenkins, Bowling Green Resident

What’s next

Froberg's initial appearance and arraignment in U.S. District Court in Bowling Green is scheduled for April 21, 2026.

The takeaway

The arrest and extradition of Robert Scott Froberg to Kentucky marks a major development in the nearly 30-year-old case of Morgan Violi's kidnapping and murder. This case has haunted the Bowling Green community for decades, and residents hope that Froberg's prosecution will finally provide some closure and justice for the Violi family.