The Murder of Kelly Ann Tinyes
The murder of Kelly Ann Tinyes shocked the quiet Long Island community of Valley Stream, New York, in March 1989. Kelly was only 13 years old when she disappeared from her neighborhood. Her body was later discovered inside a neighboring family’s home, and the investigation led to the conviction of Robert Golub.
The case attracted national attention because forensic evidence, including DNA testing, played an important role in the prosecution. More than three decades later, Kelly’s story remains a painful reminder of a family’s loss and a community’s struggle to understand a devastating crime.
Who Was Kelly Ann Tinyes?
Kelly Ann Tinyes was a 13-year-old girl who lived with her family in Valley Stream, Nassau County, New York.
On March 3, 1989, she was at home looking after her younger brother, Richard. It appeared to be an ordinary afternoon, but a telephone call would soon lead to a series of events that changed her family’s life forever.
Kelly’s family and friends later helped investigators reconstruct her final movements. Their accounts became important parts of the investigation.
The Last Known Movements on March 3, 1989
According to accounts of the investigation, Richard answered a telephone call from someone who identified himself as John and asked to speak with Kelly.
After speaking with the caller, Kelly told her younger brother that she was going to visit a friend’s house nearby and would return shortly.
When she did not come back, Richard became concerned. He went to the friend’s home but learned that Kelly had not visited.
A neighborhood child reportedly told Richard that Kelly had been seen entering the Golub family’s home. Another friend also reported seeing her go in that direction.
Attempts to reach the neighboring family were unsuccessful. Kelly’s parents returned home later that afternoon and began searching for their daughter.
What initially appeared to be a missing-child situation soon became a homicide investigation.
The Discovery Inside the Golub Family Home
The following day, detectives visited the Golub residence and spoke with members of the household.
After obtaining permission from the family’s senior member to search the property, investigators entered the home. They discovered Kelly’s body in the basement area.
The discovery devastated her family and shocked residents of Horton Road.
Contemporary news reporting described the case as an especially disturbing crime involving a young victim. The investigation quickly focused on Robert Golub, a 21-year-old neighbor.
The Investigation and Robert Golub’s Arrest
Investigators gathered forensic evidence from the scene, including a bloody palm print that prosecutors said connected Robert Golub to the crime.
Golub was charged with second-degree murder in March 1989. He pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution relied on physical and forensic evidence. DNA testing became a major issue during the legal proceedings, while the defense challenged the reliability of the testing and raised questions about the search of the Golub residence.
The case became notable because it brought forensic DNA evidence into a high-profile New York murder prosecution.
DNA Evidence and the Trial
DNA technology was still developing as a tool in criminal investigations during the late 1980s.
In Kelly’s case, prosecutors presented forensic evidence intended to connect Golub to biological material recovered during the investigation. A representative of the testing laboratory testified about the reliability of the results and the statistical significance of the match.
The defense challenged the scientific methods and questioned whether the evidence had been handled and interpreted correctly.
The dispute demonstrated how DNA evidence was beginning to influence criminal trials and how courts were being asked to evaluate the reliability of emerging forensic techniques.
The case is often discussed in connection with the early use of DNA evidence in New York criminal proceedings. However, claims that it was definitively the first New York conviction won through DNA evidence should be made cautiously because the history of early DNA cases and courtroom rulings is more complicated than a simple first-case label suggests.
Robert Golub’s Conviction and Sentence
On April 7, 1990, Robert Golub was found guilty of second-degree murder.
He received a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Golub challenged his conviction through the appeals process, but his efforts did not overturn the judgment.
The conviction brought a legal conclusion to the prosecution of the person found guilty of Kelly’s murder. However, it did not end every question surrounding the events of March 3, 1989.
Questions About a Possible Accomplice
Over the years, members of Kelly’s family raised concerns about whether another person may have been involved.
Attention focused on John J. Golub, Robert’s younger brother, who was reportedly present in the home around the time of the crime. Kelly’s family believed he might have had information about what happened.
These concerns led to renewed attention to the case.
In 2009, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office reopened the investigation after receiving additional information. The office later stated that its comprehensive reinvestigation did not produce evidence sufficient to support new charges.
John J. Golub was not convicted or formally charged in connection with Kelly’s murder, and he denied involvement. It is therefore important not to present allegations about a possible accomplice as established fact.
The question of whether anyone else had relevant knowledge remains part of the family’s public concerns, but the available reporting does not establish another person’s criminal responsibility.
Robert Golub’s Parole Hearings
After serving the minimum portion of his sentence, Golub became eligible for parole consideration.
His first widely reported parole hearing took place in November 2013. The parole board denied his release.
News reports from that period described statements Golub made during the hearing in which he accepted responsibility for Kelly’s death and discussed his actions on the day of the crime. These statements were a significant development after earlier public claims of innocence.
Further parole decisions also attracted attention. In 2023, Kelly’s family continued to campaign against his release, and News 12 reported that another parole review was approaching.
A New York State Board of Parole administrative appeal document also records a denial of release in November 2021 and the rejection of Golub’s appeal in 2022.
The most recent sources reviewed for this article do not establish a later parole outcome beyond the 2023 reporting. Readers should consult New York State corrections records for any subsequent decision.
The Tinyes Family’s Continued Fight for Justice
Kelly’s murder had a lasting impact on her parents, brother, relatives, and neighbors.
Her family continued to speak publicly about the loss and their concerns regarding the possibility of another person having information about the crime.
In a 2013 report, CBS New York described the family’s efforts to keep attention on the investigation and its unanswered questions. The report also documented the district attorney’s conclusion that the 2009 reinvestigation had not produced sufficient evidence for additional charges.
The family’s determination reflects the lasting impact that violent crime can have on those left behind.
Why the Kelly Ann Tinyes Case Remains Significant
The Kelly Ann Tinyes murder case is remembered for several reasons:
- The victim was only 13 years old.
- The crime deeply affected a previously quiet Long Island neighborhood.
- Forensic evidence and DNA testing played an important role in the prosecution.
- Robert Golub was convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life.
- The possibility of another person’s involvement prompted a reinvestigation, but no additional charges followed.
The case also illustrates the importance of distinguishing between a conviction supported by evidence and allegations that were never established in court.
Conclusion
The murder of Kelly Ann Tinyes on March 3, 1989, remains one of the most disturbing crimes in Valley Stream’s history.
Robert Golub was convicted of her murder in 1990 and sentenced to 25 years to life. Although the conviction brought accountability through the criminal justice system, questions raised by Kelly’s family about possible additional involvement led to a renewed investigation in 2009.
That investigation did not result in further charges.
Kelly was a young teenager whose life ended far too soon. Remembering her story with accuracy and respect helps preserve her memory while recognizing the lasting pain experienced by her family.
Her name should be remembered not only because of the crime, but because she was a person whose life mattered.
News 12 – Nightmare on Horton Road: The Murder of Kelly Ann Tinyes (May 2026)
UPI Archives – Weightlifter Charged in Teen’s Death (March 23, 1989)
CBS News – 24 Years Later, Young Murder Victim’s Parents Say Justice Hasn’t Been Served
CBS News – Family’s Fight Over Robert Golub’s Parole
New York State Board of Parole – Robert Golub Appeal Decision
