Robert Coltrain, 27, sentenced to 75 years for 2020 murder with 30 years suspended

Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth has announced the sentencing of Robert Coltrain, 27, related to the murder of Brian Trotter which occurred in Prince William County, VA on or about Oct. 17, 2020.

Mr. Coltrain pled guilty to first-degree murder on June 28, 2022. On July 7, 2023, Mr. Coltrain was sentenced to 75 years in prison with 30 of those years suspended.

On October 17, 2020, Brian Trotter was reported missing by his family. Trotter had last been seen by his father getting into a vehicle with his friend, Robert Coltrain, to go to Washington D.C. Mr. Trotter gave his son a hug and said goodbye as Trotter left his residence with Coltrain.

On October 26, 2020, while police in Virginia were investigating the disappearance, Florida Highway Patrol officers found a body decomposing in the trunk of a vehicle that was involved in a motor vehicle accident in the Miami-Dade area. Authorities were able to identify the body as Brian Trotter and immediately began an investigation of the death, leading them to the driver of the vehicle, Robert Coltrain. Mr. Coltrain was arrested by the Miami-Dade Police Department and eventually extradited back to Prince William County to stand trial for the murder. 
 
Ashworth was quoted as saying, “This was such a troubling case because of the lack of motive and the friendship that the victim and defendant shared. My heart goes out to the Trotter family for the loss of their son. Although nothing will bring Brian back to his family, we can rest assured that justice has been served for his murder.” 

The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Kristina Robinson. The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney would like to recognize Sara Vutiprichar, Deputy Director of the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Victim/Witness Program, for the invaluable assistance she provided the victim’s family. We also want to recognize the hard work of the Florida Highway Patrol, the detectives of the Miami-Dade Police Department, as well as Detective Cupka, Detective Sekely, Luke Dean with the Forensic Services Bureau, and Michael Wantuck with Digital Forensics of the Prince William County Police Department. 

###
Amy Ashworth is the elected Commonwealth’s Attorney for Prince William County and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park. She was elected in November 2019. The Commonwealth Attorney’s Office can be reached from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every business day by phone at 703-792-6050 or email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).