Police from Fairfax County and Harrisonburg, Virginia, announced Friday that they have an alleged serial killer in custody. The man who they are calling “the Shopping Cart Killer” is accused of murdering at least four victims, then disposing of their remains using a shopping cart.
Police identified the suspect as 35-year-old Anthony Robinson. Fairfax Police chief Kevin Davis said Robinson has “a remarkable absence of a criminal history.” Authorities describe him as “transient” but with known prior addresses in Prince George’s County, DC, and New York. They said he met all four victims through dating apps. “He prays on the weak, he prays on the vulnerable, and he does unspeakable things with his victims,” said Davis.
Two victims were discovered in a wooded area on December 15 near the 2400 block of Fairhaven Avenue in Alexandria. One has been tentatively identified via a distinctive tattoo as 29-year-old Cheyenne Brown. Video surveillance placed Brown with Robinson at the Huntington Metro stop on September 30, as well as the Moon Inn in the 6100 block of Richmond Highway. Brown’s remains and an unidentified second set of remains were found together in a large plastic container next to a shopping cart. Police said that blunt-force trauma is Robinson’s “M.O.”
Two other victims, 39-year-old Tonita Lorice Smith, and 54-year-old Allene Elizabeth “Beth” Redmon, were found in November in an open lot near a commercial area of Harrisonburg. “Both women were discovered within a short distance of each other,” said Harrisonburg police chief Kelly Warner, “although their deaths took place at two separate times.” As with the remains found in Fairfax County, there was also a shopping cart nearby.
Authorities have not ruled out that Robinson could have had an accomplice. They are seeking information from the public that could tie him to other crimes. “He’s killed four already, and we suspect that he has more victims,” said Davis, the Fairfax chief.
Robinson is currently being held at the Rockingham County jail in Virginia. Charges in Fairfax County are forthcoming.
Marisa M. Kashino joined Washingtonian in 2009 and was a senior editor until 2022.
Andrew Beaujon joined Washingtonian in late 2014. He was previously with the Poynter Institute, TBD.com, and Washington City Paper. He lives in Del Ray.
