Episode #8 / 2021_12_29

Next tonight an alleged serial killer behind bars in Virginia. Tonight police linking him to the deaths of four women already. They say he used a shopping cart to carry their bodies away. And tonight here the concern: there may be other victims. Here’s our chief Justice correspondent Pierre Thomas now.

Tonita Lorice Smith, aged 39, and 54-year-old Allene “Beth” Redmon disappeared in Harrisonburg, Virginia this fall. Authorities say they were murdered. The bodies found Thanksgiving week in a vacant lot, allegedly transported in a shopping cart. 130 miles away in Fairfax County, Virginia, officials found this shopping cart and two more bodies in a container. One of them, believed to be 29-year-old Cheyenne Brown, who was four-month pregnant.

Authorities claim 35-year-old Anthony Robinson killed the women and that he’s a serial killer. He is now in custody. But authorities fear there are more victims.

“Our serial killer is called ‘the shopping cart killer.’ He preys on the weak. He preys on the vulnerable, and he does unspeakable things with his victim.”

Police say Robinson met the women through a dating site, would lure them to motels, and then bludgeon them to death. Authorities say they have found evidence including surveillance footage that ties Robinson to both scenes.

“It’s fair to say that on the dating apps that he is known to use, there are other people that you need to contact?”

“There are. We know he’s been in contact with other people. We found four people that ... that didn't make it*.”

*make it = to not fail, die, etc. : survive

David, police believe the suspect traveled as far north as New York and up and down the East Coast. Tonight again, David. There’s urgent concern that there could be more victims. David.

Pierre Thomas tonight. Pierre, thank you.