John Edward Robinson was born on December 27, 1943, in Cicero, Illinois, the third of five children in a working-class family. His upbringing was strict and deeply religious, shaped by a father who struggled with alcoholism and a devout Catholic mother who demanded obedience. Robinson was an intelligent but troubled child who learned early on how to manipulate others to get what he wanted.
In his teens, Robinson joined the Boy Scouts and became an Eagle Scout — a symbol of honor and responsibility that would later contrast sharply with his double life. At 19, he moved to Kansas City to attend a medical technician program but dropped out. Around this time, he married Nancy Lynch in 1964. They went on to have four children together, building the image of a conventional Midwestern family man.
Yet beneath the suburban exterior, Robinson was already crafting lies, fabrications, and schemes. His marriage would endure his lifelong betrayals, but his family never truly knew the scope of his crimes until much later.
A Career of Fraud and Deceit
Robinson’s first brush with the law came in the 1970s. He secured jobs in companies by exaggerating his credentials, then embezzled money from employers. In 1975, he was arrested for forging documents and embezzling funds from a medical practice. A few years later, he formed a fraudulent medical consulting business, promising clients opportunities that didn’t exist.
In 1980, Robinson was convicted of theft by deception and spent time in prison. Each conviction only seemed to sharpen his skills in manipulation. He learned how to forge letters, falsify documents, and craft convincing stories. By the late 1980s, he expanded his scams to lure vulnerable women, often single mothers or those seeking work, into his control.
One of his schemes involved creating a phony outreach program called the “Kansas City Outreach” designed to help women and children in need. Instead of helping, he pocketed the funds and used the organization as a front to exploit women sexually and financially.
The Pattern of Control and Abuse
Robinson’s victims often came from vulnerable backgrounds. He offered them jobs, shelter, or financial security, only to isolate and exploit them. Several women were manipulated into signing over paychecks or benefits, while others were forced into sexual servitude.
In the 1980s, he became involved in BDSM (bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadomasochism) communities, using them as a way to gain access to women willing to experiment with submissive roles. Many of these women disappeared after meeting him, though at the time, police struggled to connect the dots.
By the early 1990s, Robinson had discovered the perfect tool to expand his reach — the internet.
The Internet as a Hunting Ground
Online chat rooms and BDSM message boards were fertile ground for Robinson’s predation. He posed under various aliases, including “Slavemaster,” presenting himself as a wealthy, experienced dominant looking for submissive partners.
Robinson’s charm, paired with promises of travel, employment, or romance, made him appealing to women seeking companionship or adventure. The anonymity of the internet helped him conceal his true identity, while his ability to create fake correspondence allowed him to cover his crimes.
He convinced victims to leave families, quit jobs, and join him, sometimes demanding that they sign contracts agreeing to be his slaves. Many disappeared soon after meeting him. To keep suspicions at bay, Robinson sent their loved ones letters and emails — crafted on stolen stationery or forged with their identities — claiming they had moved away to start a new life.
Victims Who Vanished
Several women connected to Robinson disappeared under suspicious circumstances:
- Paula Godfrey (1984): A 19-year-old who vanished after telling her family Robinson had offered her a job. Her parents later received a typed letter — almost certainly forged — saying she was fine. She was never seen again.
- Lisa Stasi (1985): A 19-year-old single mother who Robinson promised housing and training. She vanished, and her infant daughter Tiffany was illegally adopted by Robinson’s brother. Lisa’s fate remains unknown.
- Catherine Clampitt (1987): A 27-year-old from Texas who answered Robinson’s ad for a job. She disappeared shortly after arriving in Kansas City.
These early disappearances foreshadowed the horror that would be uncovered years later.
The Murders and Discovery of the Barrels
In June 2000, police investigating Robinson finally uncovered the gruesome reality of his crimes. On his property near La Cygne, Kansas, they found two 55-gallon chemical drums containing the bodies of women. On another property in Missouri, three more barrels were discovered.
The identified victims included:
- Suzette Trouten: A 27-year-old nurse from Michigan lured with promises of travel.
- Isabella Lewicka: A 21-year-old Polish immigrant who had signed a “slave contract” with Robinson.
- Beverly Bonner: A prison librarian who left her husband for Robinson.
The cause of death varied from suffocation to blunt force trauma. Robinson had stored their bodies in industrial barrels, seemingly believing he could hide them indefinitely.
The Trial and Convictions
In 2002, Robinson went to trial in Kansas. Prosecutors presented overwhelming evidence linking him to multiple murders, fraud, and sexual assault. Witnesses testified to his predatory behavior, while letters, forged documents, and forensic evidence connected him to the victims.
He was convicted of capital murder for the deaths of Lewicka and Trouten, as well as first-degree murder for Bonner. The jury sentenced him to death.
In Missouri, Robinson struck a deal to avoid the death penalty by confessing to additional murders, including that of Lisa Stasi. This plea agreement ensured he would spend the rest of his life in prison without possibility of parole, even if his Kansas sentence was overturned.
A Life on Death Row
Robinson currently resides on death row in Kansas. Although Kansas has not carried out an execution since 1965, his sentence stands. Appeals have dragged on for years, but the evidence against him remains overwhelming.
Even behind bars, Robinson remains a study in manipulation. His case is cited frequently in criminology and law enforcement circles as a prime example of how predators exploit new technologies and human vulnerabilities.
Impact on Victims’ Families
The tragedy of Robinson’s crimes extended beyond the women he murdered. Families were left in limbo for years, receiving fake letters and communications that strung them along with false hope. For Lisa Stasi’s relatives, the pain was compounded by the mystery of her disappearance and the illegal adoption of her daughter. Tiffany, later renamed Heather, was eventually reunited with her maternal grandmother after Robinson’s arrest.
The scars remain, not only in the lives of families who lost loved ones but also in the Kansas City community that had harbored Robinson for decades without knowing the extent of his crimes.
Legacy and Lessons Learned
Robinson’s case left a chilling legacy. He is often referred to as the “first internet serial killer,” a label that reflects how swiftly criminals adapted to online spaces. His crimes forced law enforcement to rethink investigations in the digital age, particularly regarding online predators and missing persons.
The lessons from his case resonate today, in a world where online dating and virtual connections are even more common. His story underscores the need for caution, skepticism, and vigilance in digital interactions, especially when strangers promise opportunity or companionship.
Ultimately, John Edward Robinson was a master manipulator who thrived by hiding behind masks — the mask of a businessman, the mask of a mentor, the mask of a dominant partner. Each disguise allowed him to exploit the trust of others while feeding his desires for control, power, and violence.
His story is not just one of murder, but of how deception, technology, and human vulnerability intersect in dangerous ways. Robinson’s crimes remain a stark warning: even the most ordinary faces can hide monstrous realities.