Robert Sylvester Alston
North Carolina Serial Killer
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Greensboro, North Carolina
TIME PERIOD
1991-1993
VICTIMS
4 confirmed
Robert Sylvester Alston, an American serial killer, is responsible for the rape and murder of at least four women in Greensboro, North Carolina, between 1991 and 1993. His first confirmed victim, JoAnne Robinson, was murdered in April 1991, with subsequent victims also being young black women involved in prostitution or drug addiction. Alston was apprehended on January 28, 1994, and later pleaded guilty to multiple counts of first-degree murder in 1998, receiving multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole. Significant evidence included the dismemberment of victims' bodies and anonymous phone calls made by Alston to investigators, which were intended to mislead the investigation and garner media attention. He is currently incarcerated at Columbus Correctional Institution in Brunswick, North Carolina.
Investigators and the public theorize that Robert Sylvester Alston's crimes were motivated by a desire for control and power over his victims, as evidenced by his dismemberment of the bodies. Some speculate that his history of social isolation and difficulties in forming relationships may have contributed to his violent behavior. Additionally, there is speculation that his anonymous calls to investigators were an attempt to manipulate the investigation and gain notoriety.
The Dark Path of Robert Sylvester Alston: A True Crime Tale
The Early Years
Born on May 19, 1969, in Greensboro, North Carolina, Robert Sylvester Alston emerged from a humble background. His father, Jack, worked as a school custodian, while his mother, Dorothy, toiled in a factory. This stable yet modest family life did not foresee the darkness that would later engulf their son. Alston, one of two children, struggled socially, often feeling like an outsider at Grimsley High School. Despite his athletic build, he shied away from extracurricular activities, except for a lackluster stint with the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.
After graduating in 1987, Alston enrolled in a junior college in Georgia, only to drop out after a semester. During this time, he formed a relationship with a woman who bore him a son in 1989. The couple moved to Wilmington, Delaware, where a second child was born in 1991. Soon after, conflict arose, prompting Alston to abandon his family and retreat to his parents' house in Greensboro. There, he drifted through various low-skilled jobs, eventually landing a position as a dishwasher at the Rock-Ola Cafe on Battleground Avenue. Detached from emotional connections, even with his family, Alston remained a mystery to those around him.
The Murders Begin
Between 1991 and 1993, Greensboro became the haunting ground for Alston's sinister acts. His victims were young black women, often prostitutes or drug addicts, whom he picked up in his dark blue Pontiac. The first confirmed murder took place in April 1991 when he strangled 23-year-old JoAnne Robinson, a crack cocaine addict. Her lifeless body was discovered just blocks from Alston's home.
In October of that year, Alston struck again, claiming the life of 26-year-old Sharon Martin. Her dismembered remains were found scattered around Greensboro, with utility workers stumbling upon her severed head and hand near Jackson Middle School.
The spring of 1992 saw the third victim, 19-year-old Shameca Warren, whose decapitated body was unearthed in a vacant lot close to Alston's residence. Warren, also a prostitute battling addiction, had been reported missing by her family.
Alston's final known victim was 41-year-old Lois Elizabeth Williams, murdered in December 1993. Williams, who had fallen into drug use and prostitution after losing her job, was found in Piedmont National Cemetery on December 14. Witnesses last saw her with a man fitting Alston's description, a detail that police later connected to him through anonymous tips.
The Arrest and Confessions
The case took a pivotal turn in January 1994. Alston encountered a 29-year-old hitchhiker in Guilford County, offering her a ride only to assault, rape, and attempt to murder her near James B. Dudley High School. Miraculously, she survived and provided a description that led to a facial composite of her attacker.
Police presented the victim with photos of previous offenders, and she identified Alston. Though he had no prior arrests, his proximity to the crime scenes marked him as a suspect. On January 28, 1994, authorities arrested Alston. Shortly thereafter, he confessed to Lois Williams's murder, leading to a life sentence on April 18.
In 1996, Alston admitted to killing JoAnne Robinson, resulting in another life sentence on August 19. By late 1997, he confessed to the murders of Sharon Martin and Shameca Warren, despite a lack of direct evidence tying him to these crimes. Anonymous tips, suspected to have come from Alston himself, led to the recovery of their remains.
The Trial and Sentencing
On September 3, 1998, Alston stood before the court and pleaded guilty to all charges. He received two additional life sentences, each with the possibility of parole after 20 years but ordered to run consecutively, effectively ensuring his imprisonment for 80 years. In court, Alston displayed no remorse, even as he mockingly recounted his heinous acts. When pressed to reveal the location of Warren’s remains, he coldly refused, cryptically stating that only he and God knew the answers.
Ongoing Mysteries and Current Status
Post-conviction, suspicions lingered around Alston's involvement in the unsolved murders of Bernice Denise Robinson and Cheryl Lynn Mason, both occurring in Greensboro during the same period, though charges were never filed.
Alston remains incarcerated at the Columbus Correctional Institution in Brunswick, North Carolina. In the mid-2010s, he granted interviews to journalists, hinting at additional murders but withholding cooperation with prosecutors. To Nancy McLaughlin in 2016, he confided, "I won’t feed anyone’s fascination with my crimes... I don't see myself as a serial killer, but people do."
In 2002, a tragic oversight by the Greensboro Medical Examiner's Office resulted in lost remains of Sharon Martin, leading to a $50,000 fine paid to her family.
As of January 2023, Robert Sylvester Alston continues to serve his life sentences, a grim reminder of the horrors that once shadowed Greensboro.
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First Murder Committed
Robert Alston strangles 23-year-old JoAnne Robinson, a prostitute.
Second Murder Committed
Alston strangles and dismembers 26-year-old Sharon Martin.
Third Murder Discovered
The body of 19-year-old Shameca Warren is found, reported missing earlier.
Fourth Murder Discovered
41-year-old Lois Elizabeth Williams' body is found in Piedmont National Cemetery.
Arrest of Alston
Robert Alston is arrested after a survivor identifies him as her attacker.
First Conviction
Alston is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Lois Williams.
Second Conviction
Alston pleads guilty to the murder of JoAnne Robinson, receiving another life sentence.
Indictment for Additional Murders
Alston is indicted for the murders of Sharon Martin and Shameca Warren.
Final Guilty Plea
Alston pleads guilty to all charges, receiving multiple life sentences.
Robert Sylvester Alston, an American serial killer, is responsible for the rape and murder of at least four women in Greensboro, North Carolina, between 1991 and 1993. His first confirmed victim, JoAnne Robinson, was murdered in April 1991, with subsequent victims also being young black women involved in prostitution or drug addiction. Alston was apprehended on January 28, 1994, and later pleaded guilty to multiple counts of first-degree murder in 1998, receiving multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole. Significant evidence included the dismemberment of victims' bodies and anonymous phone calls made by Alston to investigators, which were intended to mislead the investigation and garner media attention. He is currently incarcerated at Columbus Correctional Institution in Brunswick, North Carolina.
Investigators and the public theorize that Robert Sylvester Alston's crimes were motivated by a desire for control and power over his victims, as evidenced by his dismemberment of the bodies. Some speculate that his history of social isolation and difficulties in forming relationships may have contributed to his violent behavior. Additionally, there is speculation that his anonymous calls to investigators were an attempt to manipulate the investigation and gain notoriety.
The Dark Path of Robert Sylvester Alston: A True Crime Tale
The Early Years
Born on May 19, 1969, in Greensboro, North Carolina, Robert Sylvester Alston emerged from a humble background. His father, Jack, worked as a school custodian, while his mother, Dorothy, toiled in a factory. This stable yet modest family life did not foresee the darkness that would later engulf their son. Alston, one of two children, struggled socially, often feeling like an outsider at Grimsley High School. Despite his athletic build, he shied away from extracurricular activities, except for a lackluster stint with the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.
After graduating in 1987, Alston enrolled in a junior college in Georgia, only to drop out after a semester. During this time, he formed a relationship with a woman who bore him a son in 1989. The couple moved to Wilmington, Delaware, where a second child was born in 1991. Soon after, conflict arose, prompting Alston to abandon his family and retreat to his parents' house in Greensboro. There, he drifted through various low-skilled jobs, eventually landing a position as a dishwasher at the Rock-Ola Cafe on Battleground Avenue. Detached from emotional connections, even with his family, Alston remained a mystery to those around him.
The Murders Begin
Between 1991 and 1993, Greensboro became the haunting ground for Alston's sinister acts. His victims were young black women, often prostitutes or drug addicts, whom he picked up in his dark blue Pontiac. The first confirmed murder took place in April 1991 when he strangled 23-year-old JoAnne Robinson, a crack cocaine addict. Her lifeless body was discovered just blocks from Alston's home.
In October of that year, Alston struck again, claiming the life of 26-year-old Sharon Martin. Her dismembered remains were found scattered around Greensboro, with utility workers stumbling upon her severed head and hand near Jackson Middle School.
The spring of 1992 saw the third victim, 19-year-old Shameca Warren, whose decapitated body was unearthed in a vacant lot close to Alston's residence. Warren, also a prostitute battling addiction, had been reported missing by her family.
Alston's final known victim was 41-year-old Lois Elizabeth Williams, murdered in December 1993. Williams, who had fallen into drug use and prostitution after losing her job, was found in Piedmont National Cemetery on December 14. Witnesses last saw her with a man fitting Alston's description, a detail that police later connected to him through anonymous tips.
The Arrest and Confessions
The case took a pivotal turn in January 1994. Alston encountered a 29-year-old hitchhiker in Guilford County, offering her a ride only to assault, rape, and attempt to murder her near James B. Dudley High School. Miraculously, she survived and provided a description that led to a facial composite of her attacker.
Police presented the victim with photos of previous offenders, and she identified Alston. Though he had no prior arrests, his proximity to the crime scenes marked him as a suspect. On January 28, 1994, authorities arrested Alston. Shortly thereafter, he confessed to Lois Williams's murder, leading to a life sentence on April 18.
In 1996, Alston admitted to killing JoAnne Robinson, resulting in another life sentence on August 19. By late 1997, he confessed to the murders of Sharon Martin and Shameca Warren, despite a lack of direct evidence tying him to these crimes. Anonymous tips, suspected to have come from Alston himself, led to the recovery of their remains.
The Trial and Sentencing
On September 3, 1998, Alston stood before the court and pleaded guilty to all charges. He received two additional life sentences, each with the possibility of parole after 20 years but ordered to run consecutively, effectively ensuring his imprisonment for 80 years. In court, Alston displayed no remorse, even as he mockingly recounted his heinous acts. When pressed to reveal the location of Warren’s remains, he coldly refused, cryptically stating that only he and God knew the answers.
Ongoing Mysteries and Current Status
Post-conviction, suspicions lingered around Alston's involvement in the unsolved murders of Bernice Denise Robinson and Cheryl Lynn Mason, both occurring in Greensboro during the same period, though charges were never filed.
Alston remains incarcerated at the Columbus Correctional Institution in Brunswick, North Carolina. In the mid-2010s, he granted interviews to journalists, hinting at additional murders but withholding cooperation with prosecutors. To Nancy McLaughlin in 2016, he confided, "I won’t feed anyone’s fascination with my crimes... I don't see myself as a serial killer, but people do."
In 2002, a tragic oversight by the Greensboro Medical Examiner's Office resulted in lost remains of Sharon Martin, leading to a $50,000 fine paid to her family.
As of January 2023, Robert Sylvester Alston continues to serve his life sentences, a grim reminder of the horrors that once shadowed Greensboro.
Sources
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
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First Murder Committed
Robert Alston strangles 23-year-old JoAnne Robinson, a prostitute.
Second Murder Committed
Alston strangles and dismembers 26-year-old Sharon Martin.
Third Murder Discovered
The body of 19-year-old Shameca Warren is found, reported missing earlier.
Fourth Murder Discovered
41-year-old Lois Elizabeth Williams' body is found in Piedmont National Cemetery.
Arrest of Alston
Robert Alston is arrested after a survivor identifies him as her attacker.
First Conviction
Alston is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Lois Williams.
Second Conviction
Alston pleads guilty to the murder of JoAnne Robinson, receiving another life sentence.
Indictment for Additional Murders
Alston is indicted for the murders of Sharon Martin and Shameca Warren.
Final Guilty Plea
Alston pleads guilty to all charges, receiving multiple life sentences.