John Edward Robinson
Internet-Enabled Serial Killer
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Kansas City, Missouri
TIME PERIOD
1984-2000
VICTIMS
8 confirmed
John Edward Robinson, born December 27, 1943, is a convicted serial killer currently on death row in Kansas. He was apprehended on June 2, 2000, after a lengthy investigation into the disappearances of several women, which led to his conviction for three murders in Kansas in 2003, resulting in a death sentence. As part of a plea deal in 2005, Robinson confessed to five additional murders in Missouri, for which he received multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole. His criminal activities spanned from 1984 to 2000, during which he utilized online chatrooms under the alias "Slavemaster" to lure victims, marking him as the first known serial killer to exploit the internet for this purpose. Robinson is currently imprisoned at the El Dorado Correctional Facility, with ongoing investigations into any potential additional victims.
John Edward Robinson is believed to have used his charm and con artist skills to manipulate victims, leading some to theorize that he preyed on vulnerable individuals seeking companionship or guidance. There is speculation that his use of the internet to lure victims marked a significant shift in criminal behavior, making him the first known serial killer to exploit online chatrooms for this purpose. Additionally, some believe that the true number of his victims may be higher than the eight confirmed, suggesting he could have evaded detection for longer than previously thought.
The Sinister Chronicles of John Edward Robinson
A Prelude to Darkness
John Edward Robinson, a name etched in the annals of American crime, was born on December 27, 1943, in Cicero, Illinois. His life, marked by deception and manipulation, would later reveal him as a cunning serial killer, kidnapper, rapist, and forger. By 2003, this malevolent figure was sentenced to death for three murders in Kansas, and two years later, confessed to five additional murders in Missouri, resulting in life sentences without parole. Robinson, a master of deceit, exploited the burgeoning internet, earning the dubious distinction of being the first known serial killer to use online chatrooms to ensnare his victims under the alias "Slavemaster."
The Early Years and Descent into Crime
Robinson's early life was tumultuous, marked by an abusive alcoholic father and a strict disciplinarian mother. Despite these challenges, in 1957, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and even performed before Queen Elizabeth II in London. His educational journey was less illustrious; he enrolled at Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago but was expelled after a year due to disciplinary issues. His short stint at Morton Junior College in Cicero ended similarly in failure.
In 1964, Robinson relocated to Kansas City, marrying Nancy Jo Lynch, with whom he had four children. His criminal career began in 1969 with his arrest for embezzling $33,000 from Dr. Wallace Graham's medical practice using forged credentials. This marked the beginning of a series of fraudulent activities, including embezzlement and securities fraud, leading to multiple arrests and probation extensions throughout the 1970s.
Despite his criminal tendencies, Robinson maintained a facade of respectability, becoming a Scoutmaster, baseball coach, and Sunday school teacher. In 1977, he audaciously forged letters to proclaim himself "Man of the Year" and hosted an awards luncheon in his honor. His criminal exploits continued unabated, culminating in a jail sentence in 1982 for embezzlement and check forgery.
The Murders Unfold
Robinson's known victim count stands at eight, yet authorities suspect there may be more. His victims, often women seeking employment or companionship, were lured by promises of a better life.
Paula Guylene Godfrey (1984): At 19, Godfrey was hired by Robinson under false pretenses. She disappeared after Robinson allegedly took her to the airport, leaving only a dubious typewritten letter claiming she was safe. She was never seen again.
Lisa Stasi (1985): Under the alias John Osborne, Robinson offered Lisa and her infant daughter, Tiffany, a new start. Lisa vanished soon after, and Robinson deceitfully facilitated Tiffany's illegal adoption to his brother for $5,500. Her body has never been found.
Catherine Frances Clampitt (1987): After moving to Kansas City, Clampitt was hired by Robinson for a promising job. She vanished after a meeting with him, her case remaining unresolved.
Beverly Bonner (1994): The prison librarian met Robinson during his incarceration. Upon his release, she disappeared, and her alimony checks continued to be cashed by Robinson.
Sheila and Debbie Faith (1994): Robinson, masquerading as a philanthropist, offered to support Sheila and her disabled daughter. Both disappeared shortly after relocating to Kansas City.
Izabela Lewicka (1999): The Polish immigrant was lured by Robinson into a faux marriage and a BDSM relationship. She vanished, her body later discovered in a chemical drum on Robinson's farm.
Suzette Trouten (2000): Moving to Kansas to be Robinson's submissive partner, Trouten disappeared, with her body found alongside Lewicka's.
The Downfall
Robinson's downfall began in 1999 when his name surfaced in multiple missing person investigations. His arrest in June 2000, following a sexual battery complaint and theft charge, provided authorities the opportunity to search his properties. Investigators uncovered the bodies of Lewicka and Trouten in chemical drums on his Kansas farm, and Bonner, Sheila, and Debbie Faith in a storage facility in Missouri.
In 2002, Robinson was tried in Kansas for the murders of Trouten, Lewicka, and Stasi, receiving two death sentences and life imprisonment. In Missouri, he faced murder charges for additional victims. Despite a lack of cooperation from Robinson, a plea deal was reached in 2003, resulting in life sentences for the Missouri murders.
Aftermath
Robinson's sinister legacy continues, with his 2015 conviction for Trouten and Stasi overturned on technicalities, though his death sentence for Lewicka was upheld. His marriage of forty-one years ended in 2005, and subsequent civil suits highlighted the tragic consequences of his actions, including a settlement for Heather Robinson, Stasi's daughter.
Today, Robinson remains on death row at the El Dorado Correctional Facility, his secrets locked away, the full extent of his crimes perhaps never to be revealed.
Sources
For more information, visit the Wikipedia article.
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First Victim Disappearance
Paula Guylene Godfrey, 19, goes missing after meeting Robinson, who promised her a job.
Lisa Stasi Goes Missing
Lisa Stasi and her infant daughter disappear after meeting Robinson, who promised them a better life.
Catherine Clampitt Disappears
Catherine Frances Clampitt goes missing after meeting Robinson for a job interview.
Izabela Lewicka Disappears
Izabela Lewicka, 21, vanishes after moving to Kansas City to be with Robinson.
Robinson Arrested
John Edward Robinson is arrested after a woman files a sexual battery complaint against him.
Bodies Discovered
Authorities find the bodies of two women in chemical drums on Robinson's farm.
Kansas Trial Begins
Robinson stands trial for the murders of Trouten, Lewicka, and Stasi, resulting in a conviction.
Plea Deal in Missouri
Robinson pleads guilty to five murders in Missouri as part of a plea deal, receiving life sentences.
Death Sentence Upheld
Kansas Supreme Court upholds Robinson's death sentence for the murder of Lewicka.
John Edward Robinson, born December 27, 1943, is a convicted serial killer currently on death row in Kansas. He was apprehended on June 2, 2000, after a lengthy investigation into the disappearances of several women, which led to his conviction for three murders in Kansas in 2003, resulting in a death sentence. As part of a plea deal in 2005, Robinson confessed to five additional murders in Missouri, for which he received multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole. His criminal activities spanned from 1984 to 2000, during which he utilized online chatrooms under the alias "Slavemaster" to lure victims, marking him as the first known serial killer to exploit the internet for this purpose. Robinson is currently imprisoned at the El Dorado Correctional Facility, with ongoing investigations into any potential additional victims.
John Edward Robinson is believed to have used his charm and con artist skills to manipulate victims, leading some to theorize that he preyed on vulnerable individuals seeking companionship or guidance. There is speculation that his use of the internet to lure victims marked a significant shift in criminal behavior, making him the first known serial killer to exploit online chatrooms for this purpose. Additionally, some believe that the true number of his victims may be higher than the eight confirmed, suggesting he could have evaded detection for longer than previously thought.
The Sinister Chronicles of John Edward Robinson
A Prelude to Darkness
John Edward Robinson, a name etched in the annals of American crime, was born on December 27, 1943, in Cicero, Illinois. His life, marked by deception and manipulation, would later reveal him as a cunning serial killer, kidnapper, rapist, and forger. By 2003, this malevolent figure was sentenced to death for three murders in Kansas, and two years later, confessed to five additional murders in Missouri, resulting in life sentences without parole. Robinson, a master of deceit, exploited the burgeoning internet, earning the dubious distinction of being the first known serial killer to use online chatrooms to ensnare his victims under the alias "Slavemaster."
The Early Years and Descent into Crime
Robinson's early life was tumultuous, marked by an abusive alcoholic father and a strict disciplinarian mother. Despite these challenges, in 1957, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and even performed before Queen Elizabeth II in London. His educational journey was less illustrious; he enrolled at Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago but was expelled after a year due to disciplinary issues. His short stint at Morton Junior College in Cicero ended similarly in failure.
In 1964, Robinson relocated to Kansas City, marrying Nancy Jo Lynch, with whom he had four children. His criminal career began in 1969 with his arrest for embezzling $33,000 from Dr. Wallace Graham's medical practice using forged credentials. This marked the beginning of a series of fraudulent activities, including embezzlement and securities fraud, leading to multiple arrests and probation extensions throughout the 1970s.
Despite his criminal tendencies, Robinson maintained a facade of respectability, becoming a Scoutmaster, baseball coach, and Sunday school teacher. In 1977, he audaciously forged letters to proclaim himself "Man of the Year" and hosted an awards luncheon in his honor. His criminal exploits continued unabated, culminating in a jail sentence in 1982 for embezzlement and check forgery.
The Murders Unfold
Robinson's known victim count stands at eight, yet authorities suspect there may be more. His victims, often women seeking employment or companionship, were lured by promises of a better life.
Paula Guylene Godfrey (1984): At 19, Godfrey was hired by Robinson under false pretenses. She disappeared after Robinson allegedly took her to the airport, leaving only a dubious typewritten letter claiming she was safe. She was never seen again.
Lisa Stasi (1985): Under the alias John Osborne, Robinson offered Lisa and her infant daughter, Tiffany, a new start. Lisa vanished soon after, and Robinson deceitfully facilitated Tiffany's illegal adoption to his brother for $5,500. Her body has never been found.
Catherine Frances Clampitt (1987): After moving to Kansas City, Clampitt was hired by Robinson for a promising job. She vanished after a meeting with him, her case remaining unresolved.
Beverly Bonner (1994): The prison librarian met Robinson during his incarceration. Upon his release, she disappeared, and her alimony checks continued to be cashed by Robinson.
Sheila and Debbie Faith (1994): Robinson, masquerading as a philanthropist, offered to support Sheila and her disabled daughter. Both disappeared shortly after relocating to Kansas City.
Izabela Lewicka (1999): The Polish immigrant was lured by Robinson into a faux marriage and a BDSM relationship. She vanished, her body later discovered in a chemical drum on Robinson's farm.
Suzette Trouten (2000): Moving to Kansas to be Robinson's submissive partner, Trouten disappeared, with her body found alongside Lewicka's.
The Downfall
Robinson's downfall began in 1999 when his name surfaced in multiple missing person investigations. His arrest in June 2000, following a sexual battery complaint and theft charge, provided authorities the opportunity to search his properties. Investigators uncovered the bodies of Lewicka and Trouten in chemical drums on his Kansas farm, and Bonner, Sheila, and Debbie Faith in a storage facility in Missouri.
In 2002, Robinson was tried in Kansas for the murders of Trouten, Lewicka, and Stasi, receiving two death sentences and life imprisonment. In Missouri, he faced murder charges for additional victims. Despite a lack of cooperation from Robinson, a plea deal was reached in 2003, resulting in life sentences for the Missouri murders.
Aftermath
Robinson's sinister legacy continues, with his 2015 conviction for Trouten and Stasi overturned on technicalities, though his death sentence for Lewicka was upheld. His marriage of forty-one years ended in 2005, and subsequent civil suits highlighted the tragic consequences of his actions, including a settlement for Heather Robinson, Stasi's daughter.
Today, Robinson remains on death row at the El Dorado Correctional Facility, his secrets locked away, the full extent of his crimes perhaps never to be revealed.
Sources
For more information, visit the Wikipedia article.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Victim Disappearance
Paula Guylene Godfrey, 19, goes missing after meeting Robinson, who promised her a job.
Lisa Stasi Goes Missing
Lisa Stasi and her infant daughter disappear after meeting Robinson, who promised them a better life.
Catherine Clampitt Disappears
Catherine Frances Clampitt goes missing after meeting Robinson for a job interview.
Izabela Lewicka Disappears
Izabela Lewicka, 21, vanishes after moving to Kansas City to be with Robinson.
Robinson Arrested
John Edward Robinson is arrested after a woman files a sexual battery complaint against him.
Bodies Discovered
Authorities find the bodies of two women in chemical drums on Robinson's farm.
Kansas Trial Begins
Robinson stands trial for the murders of Trouten, Lewicka, and Stasi, resulting in a conviction.
Plea Deal in Missouri
Robinson pleads guilty to five murders in Missouri as part of a plea deal, receiving life sentences.
Death Sentence Upheld
Kansas Supreme Court upholds Robinson's death sentence for the murder of Lewicka.