Mom Convicted in 2002 Daughter's Death Alleges False Confession

Karen Boes, 69, is challenging findings by arson investigators in a 2002 house fire that killed her 14-year-old daughter Robin.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Karen Boes, who was convicted of first-degree murder in the 2002 death of her 14-year-old daughter Robin, is challenging her conviction, alleging she falsely confessed and questioning the findings of arson investigators in the deadly fire at their Zeeland, Michigan home. Boes, now 69, has been granted a four-day evidentiary hearing in Ottawa County Circuit Court to present testimony from fire experts and on the issue of false confessions.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns about potential false confessions and the reliability of arson investigation findings, which have been scrutinized in recent years. Boes' case has also gained attention through a Netflix documentary, 'The Confession Tapes', which examined her claims of a false confession.

The details

On July 30, 2002, a fire broke out in the Boes' Zeeland home, killing 14-year-old Robin Boes. Prosecutors argued that Karen Boes, who left the home shortly before the fire was reported, started the fire and that Robin could not have set it herself. However, a defense expert said the fire originated in Robin's bedroom and she may have accidentally ignited flammable materials. Boes was convicted of first-degree murder in 2003 and sentenced to life in prison, but has maintained her innocence, claiming police coerced her into falsely confessing during a 16-hour interrogation.

  • On July 30, 2002, a fire broke out in the Boes' Zeeland home, killing 14-year-old Robin Boes.
  • In early 2003, a jury convicted Karen Boes of first-degree murder and she was sentenced to life in prison.
  • In 2021, Boes filed another appeal in the trial court, arguing that newly discovered evidence justified a new trial.
  • In 2023, the judge ruled that the new evidence would not have changed the trial's outcome, but the state appeals court ordered an evidentiary hearing.
  • The evidentiary hearing is set to begin on February 5, 2026.

The players

Karen Boes

A 69-year-old woman convicted of first-degree murder in the 2002 death of her 14-year-old daughter, Robin Boes. She is challenging her conviction, alleging a false confession and questioning the arson investigation findings.

Robin Boes

The 14-year-old daughter of Karen Boes who died in the 2002 house fire.

David Zessin

Karen Boes' attorney who is representing her in the evidentiary hearing.

Judge Karen Miedema

The Ottawa County Circuit Court judge presiding over the upcoming evidentiary hearing, who was not the original trial judge.

The Innocence Project

An organization that has backed Karen Boes' legal efforts, noting that false confessions are a common factor in wrongful convictions.

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What they’re saying

“I was falsely accused and convicted of murder of my precious 14 year old daughter, Robin Lynn Boes.”

— Karen Boes (Letter to a reporter)

“The truth is that I had absolutely nothing to do with the fire.”

— Karen Boes (Trial testimony)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide over the four-day evidentiary hearing whether to grant Karen Boes a new trial based on the new evidence regarding the fire investigation and her alleged false confession.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in the criminal justice system around false confessions and the reliability of forensic evidence, particularly in older cases. The outcome of the evidentiary hearing could have significant implications for Karen Boes and set a precedent for how courts handle claims of wrongful convictions based on new evidence.