John Edward Robinson, branded the internet's first serial killer, sent chilling messages to his victims before luring them to their deaths through online adult chat rooms. The convicted murderer prowled early internet chat rooms, targeting vulnerable women, and is known to have killed at least eight individuals.
Background of a Killer
Born on December 27, 1943, in Cicero, Illinois, Robinson grew up with his parents and four siblings, attending a Catholic boys' school. A seasoned con man, he turned to murder while living in the Midwest with his wife and four children. He currently sits on death row at El Dorado Correctional Facility in Kansas.
First Known Victims
In 1984, Robinson claimed his first known victim, Paula Godfrey, a 19-year-old he hired at his sales company. After her disappearance, he forged letters bearing her signature to suggest she was alive, leading investigators to abandon the case. Three years later, he targeted Catherine Clampitt, 27, offering employment and trips before she vanished in June 1987.
Imprisonment and Return to Crime
In 1987, Robinson was imprisoned for defrauding business investors. Upon parole in 1989, he discovered internet adult chat rooms, which provided access to a new string of victims. He kept five computers in his home, spending hours online under various aliases.
Lisa Stasi and the Adoption Scheme
In early 1985, Robinson met Lisa Stasi, a 19-year-old mother, through a Kansas City hospital. He offered her a job and housing, then killed her, leaving her infant daughter unharmed. Robinson presented the baby to his brother and sister-in-law as an urgent adoption, pocketing thousands in fees. The couple remained unaware of the truth until their daughter became a teenager.
Sheila and Debbie Faith
Through a chat room, Robinson encountered Sheila Faith, a 45-year-old mother, and her 15-year-old daughter Debbie, who used a wheelchair. He offered employment and medical treatment. After the pair moved to Missouri in 1994, Robinson killed them, and their disappearance remained unsolved for years.
Izabela Lewicka and Suzette Trouten
In 1997, Robinson met 19-year-old Polish immigrant Izabela Lewicka online, persuading her to become his sex slave. She signed a slave contract, giving him complete control. In August 1999, Robinson murdered Lewicka, claiming she was deported for drug possession. One of his messages to her read: "I'm a wealthy businessman. I'm gonna take care of you. You can be my slave. And by the way, we're gonna travel all the time, go to exotic places and just have a wonderful life."
Robinson later lured 27-year-old nurse Suzette Trouten with a fabricated care position. After she moved to Missouri, he forced her to sign a slave contract and killed her. He again forged letters to deceive her family, but her mother sensed something was wrong.
Discovery and Arrest
In April 2000, a Texas woman reported that Robinson forced her into sexual acts and stole her possessions, including sex toys. Another woman alleged extreme violence. Police discovered a third woman preparing to become Robinson's sex slave. A search warrant led to the discovery of two barrels containing the bodies of Lewicka and Trouten. Investigators then found two more cylinders at a storage facility, holding the bodies of Sheila Faith, Debbie Faith, and Beverly Bonner, a prison librarian who had left her husband for Robinson.
Trial and Sentencing
Medical experts concluded the victims died from blows to the head. Robinson's wife denied knowledge of the murders but admitted she knew of his affairs. In 2002, he faced trial for the murders of Lisa Stasi, Suzette Trouten, and Izabela Lewicka, along with other charges. The six-week trial became the longest criminal prosecution in Kansas history, resulting in a guilty verdict on all counts. Robinson also pleaded guilty in Missouri to the murders of Beverly Bonner, Paula Godfrey, Debbie and Sheila Faith, and Catherine Clampitt. He received multiple life sentences and two death sentences.
