September 30, 2025 – Springfield, Massachusetts – Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni has announced that Kenneth Robson, 68, of Springfield, has been sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison after pleading guilty to Second Degree Murder in the 2024 killing of his wife, 45-year-old Quitiza Holmes.

On April 30, 2024, at approximately 4:52 a.m., Springfield Police received a 911 call from Robson. During the call, Robson identified himself and told dispatchers he needed an ambulance because “he hit his wife with a hammer and she might be dead.” At the direction of dispatch, Robson exited the building, where he surrendered to police officers.

Inside the residence, officers discovered Holmes lying face down in a pool of blood, suffering from catastrophic head injuries and apparent defensive wounds. A blood-stained hammer with a wooden handle was recovered nearby. Holmes was transported to Baystate Medical Center, where she remained hospitalized until succumbing to her injuries on May 16, 2024.

During the course of the investigation, Robson made several spontaneous statements to police, claiming he had ingested drugs that were not what he expected, and blaming his actions on their effects.

This was not the first time Robson stood accused of killing his spouse. In 1984, he was convicted of murdering his then-wife Joan Cusson, a crime that left lasting wounds on her family. Members of that family remained deeply engaged throughout this case, with at least one relative attending every court proceeding. They voiced outrage that Robson had been released from prison and allowed the opportunity to commit another violent act, underscoring their enduring grief and frustration.

“This was a brutal and senseless attack that ended the life of Quitiza Holmes, a woman who should still be with her family and community today,” said Gulluni. “I want to express my deepest condolences to her loved ones, and I thank the Springfield Police Department and our prosecutors for their work in holding this defendant accountable. With today’s sentence, he will spend the remainder of his life in prison and will never again have the opportunity to harm another person.”

The case was investigated by the Springfield Police Department’s Homicide Unit under the direction of Captain Trent Duda and the Hampden District Attorneys Murder Unit.

The Commonwealth was represented by Assistant District Attorneys Michael Cashman and Cindy Payne, and Stacy Martel serving as victim witness advocate.