Samantha Robson, of Lindenhurst, confessed to police and gave a motive for killing Edwin Valentin, of Wyandanch, prosecutor says

A Lindenhurst woman charged with murder and robbery in the stabbing death of a guest in her home confessed to police and gave a motive for the killing, prosecutors said at her arraignment on a grand jury indictment Tuesday.

Samantha Robson, 29, of Bristol Street, told police in a statement captured on body camera footage that she stabbed Edwin Valentin, 34, of Wyandanch, in a dispute over money, a prosecutor told the judge.

"Samantha Robson opened the door and immediately told the officer that she had stabbed Mr. Valentin," Assistant Suffolk County District Attorney Dena Rizopoulos told the judge. "She explained that Mr. Valentin tried to give her girl fake money."

The prosecutor did not elaborate on those statements, though sources told Newsday the house functioned as a brothel.

Robson pleaded not guilty Tuesday to two counts of second-degree murder, including a charge of intentional murder, and two counts of first-degree robbery. She was remanded to the Suffolk County Jail without bail by acting State Supreme Court Justice Steven Pilewski.

Prosecutors said Suffolk police received a 911 call shortly after 3 a.m. on Sept. 29 reporting a stabbing at the home.

Robson told police she stabbed Valentin with a knife she then placed in her purse, but would not say where on his body Valentin was injured, Rizopoulos said. The knife was located with "what appeared to be blood" on it, Rizopoulos said.

Officers found Valentin laying on the floor of an adjacent room with knife wounds to the neck and a nearly severed artery, injuries that led to his death, the prosecutor said.

While being taken to a hospital on the night of the stabbing, Robson dropped bullets on the floor of an ambulance and later told police she initially confronted Valentin with a rifle investigators found in a safe in her home.

Robson made "various and spontaneous admissions" to police in additional statements captured on body camera footage turned over to the defense," Rizopoulos said.

"She named herself as the perpetrator and stated the motive of the murder," the prosecutor said.

Defense attorney John Halverson, of Patchogue, declined to comment following the arraignment, saying he recently took over the case and needed time to review discovery.

Robson's previous attorney, John Powers, of Hauppauge, said she was injured during an altercation with Valentin.

One witness told a police detective of having heard Robson yell, "He is in the house" and that Robson said to call 911 and was scared. The witness said Robson "had blood all over her dress," according to a written statement attached to a criminal complaint issued after her arrest.

Another witness said: "I had heard fumbling and ... banging around on the first floor; I came down to see what was happening."

That witness described walking toward the kitchen and saw someone who appeared to be Robson fighting with a man.

"They weren’t like fighting but more wrestling standing up ... there was tussling ... there was blood all over both of them."

Robson yelled to call 911, the witness said. The fighting was audible outside.

Family members of both Robson and Valentin declined to comment following the arraignment Tuesday.

Robson is due back in court Nov. 13. She faces a possible sentence of 25 years to life if convicted on the top charge of second-degree murder.

By Grant Parpan

grant.parpan@newsday.com@GrantParpan

Grant Parpan covers Suffolk County courts and federal courts for Newsday. A Long Island native, he joined Newsday in 2022.