The Internet’s First Serial Killer, John Edward Robinson

John Edward Robinson, also known as the Slavemaster, was an American serial killer, con man, embezzler, kidnapper, and forger who was found guilty of three murders committed in and around Kansas City, receiving the death penalty for two of them. In 2005, he admitted responsibility for five further homicides in Missouri as part of a plea bargain to receive multiple life sentences without possibility of parole and avoid more death sentences. Investigators suspect that more victims remain undiscovered.

Robinson was born on December 27, 1943, in Cicero, Illinois. He had a troubled childhood, with an abusive father and a disciplinarian mother. He also struggled with academic difficulties. Despite these challenges, Robinson was able to graduate from high school and attend college for a brief period of time.

After college, Robinson began a long career of crime. He was convicted of a variety of crimes, including embezzlement, forgery, and kidnapping. He also served time in prison.

In the early 1990s, Robinson began using the internet to meet women. He would pose as a successful businessman and offer women jobs or other opportunities. He would then lure them to his home or apartment, where he would kidnap and abuse them.

Robinson killed at least eight women during his fifteen-year crime spree. He typically strangled his victims and then disposed of their bodies in remote areas.

Robinson was arrested in 2000 after one of his victims escaped from his home. He was convicted of three murders and sentenced to death. He is currently on death row at the El Dorado Correctional Facility in Kansas.

Robinson’s case is notable because he was one of the first serial killers to use the internet to meet and prey on his victims. He is also known for his ability to charm and manipulate his victims.

Robinson’s story is a reminder of the dangers of the internet and the importance of being careful about who you meet online. It is also a reminder that even the most charming and seemingly successful people can be dangerous.