Anthony Eugene RobinsonPhoto: Rocktown Now
Anthony Eugene Robinson, infamously known as the “Shopping Cart Killer,” is set to stand trial on Monday (January 27) in Rockingham County for the murders of Beth Redmon and Tonita Smith. This case, marked by years of investigations and court proceedings, has captured widespread attention due to its disturbing details and connections to other potential crimes.
On November 24, 2021, the Harrisonburg Police Department (HPD) discovered the bodies of Beth Redmon, 54, of Harrisonburg, and Tonita Smith, 39, of Charlottesville, in a vacant lot behind the Howard Johnson hotel parking lot. The victims bodies were found in shopping carts, leading the media to nickname Robinson the “Shopping Cart Killer.” However, the use of this moniker will be prohibited during the trial, as Robinson's lawyer expressed concerns that it could prejudice jurors and risk a mistrial.
Robinson, who worked at Pilgrim’s Pride in Timberville, reportedly met both women through the dating app ‘Plenty of Fish’. The women had been seen entering Robinson’s rented hotel room at the Howard Johnson on Linda Lane on separate occasions, a month apart, according to surveillance footage. Surveillance videos showed Robinson removing shopping carts from his room on two occasions, with what appeared to be bodies wrapped in bed sheets.
Beth Redmon’s body was discovered with a plastic bag over her head, while Tonita Smith was found nude with her arms tied behind her back using black yarn purchased by Robinson at Walmart. Blood evidence was recovered from Robinson’s motel room, along with Smith’s ID, phone, and clothing. A forensic examination revealed methamphetamine in Redmon’s system, though it was not deemed the cause of death. DNA evidence, including spermatozoa on a towel found with Smith’s body, was also submitted as evidence.
Robinson initially claimed that the women overdosed in his room while he was asleep, prompting him to dispose of their bodies. However, prosecutors argued the killings were “sado-sexual,” with evidence pointing to blunt force trauma as the cause of death.
In September 2022, a grand jury indicted Robinson on multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of concealing dead bodies, and one count of aggravated murder involving multiple victims within three years—a Class 1 felony. Robinson’s defense team sought a sanity evaluation in late 2022, citing his history of mental illness dating back to 2014. However, the evaluation ultimately ruled Robinson ineligible for an insanity plea.
The trial was initially split between charges of murder and aggravated murder. However, in September 2024, just days before the trial was set to begin, both parties agreed to consolidate the charges into a single, longer trial.
The Harrisonburg murders are not Robinson’s only alleged crimes. Authorities in Fairfax County suspect him in additional killings, where victims were similarly bludgeoned to death and discarded in shopping carts. Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis described Robinson as someone who “preys on the weak” and commits “unspeakable acts” against his victims.
As the trial begins, Robinson faces charges of felony murder, concealing dead bodies, and aggravated murder. The gruesome details of his actions, combined with his extensive history of accessing pornography that matches the physical descriptions of his victims, paint a chilling portrait of a serial predator.
SOURCE: WHSV, DNR, Rocktown Now
