A married man and a father of four who had made his living through crimes. He lived in Kansas, jumping back and forth from a couple of towns as he continued to make money through scam businesses. After years of having a career as a con-artist, he was finally caught and sentenced to spend time in prison. He was soon out and had not been "rehabilitated" from the dark life he pursued.



When he discovered the internet, he also had begun to drift curiously into the S&M lifestyle. He went into chatrooms and onto sites that had WantAds for those who were looking for S&M partners, pinpointing vulnerable women. He would "seduce" him with his fake charm and lure them to where he lived by claiming to "offer them protection, financial support, a job, and himself, who would love and care for them."



He would have them cut off all communication to their friends and family and, before he would go any further with them, he would have them sign contracts that allowed him to do what he wanted to them. They had no say anymore and were merely animals to him. All the while, he was still married to his wife, whom he refused to leave no matter what.



These women's families had filed complaints and questioned the authorities about these problems. The women would basically "fall off the face of the earth" and nothing could be done about it. Due to lack of evidence, authorities could not pursue this man, John Robinson. Eventually, all of his plans caught up with him and he was caught.



He owned a few acres of land in Olathe, Kansas where he had a trailor where he spent his days connected to the thousands of possible victims via internet. When the police had searched this property, they found two large, yellow, metal barrels. They opened them to discover two mutilated bodies which were later identified as two of the women that had left their families behind in other states to live with this "Mr. Right."



Robinson also had a storage unit in Missouri which was also searched. They found three more barrels. The acidic body fluids that had leaked from the bodies found inside the barrels had eaten through the barrels and the cement floor. There were kiddie pools that held the barrels in an unsuccessful attempt to hold the bodily fluids and kitty litter had been poured on the ground as if to soak up the smell of the rotting bodies. Two of the bodies were later identified as a mother and daughter who had been reported missing nearly four to five years earlier. The third body was in such a decomposed state that it could not be identified whatsoever.



He was due to take trial for these murders and disappearances in 2000 but did not finish trial until this year, 2003. He was convicted and sentenced to death, though he has not taken trial that awaits him in Missouri for the bodies that had been found in his storage unit. He will be going to trial in Missouri later this year or possibly 2004.

How the author(s) himself/themselves had shared their experiences with crime and others that had the personality of John Robinson. They shared their opinions as well. I also liked the pointers/tips/advice as to how to remain safe on the internet and how to protect yourself from other "John Robinsons" out there.

How the victims and their lives had not been put into depth as others involved in this case. It seemed to me as if they were truly considered "unimportant" to everyone until it came to trial time.

Learn more about John Robinson because I had never even heard of him or his case.

Scared and shocked at how people can take advantage of the internet for their own dark and twisted desires. I am more aware of the dangers the internet holds as well as just being out in the world among millions of possible John Robinsons.

Used to be an FBI agent who also is a co-author The Cases That Haunt Us and another book. He seemed to take this case to a more personal level and related to it through other experiences and cases in "his time."

It allows you to realize that appearances aren't always what they seem and it shows you that you should always be ever careful about who you talk to and what information you share with them.

You may believe you know that the internet is dangerous and you are aware that frauds are done through the internet and that even murder, missing persons, child pornography and other crimes are committed. But you have abosolutely no idea until you actually witness it. This book allowed me to "stand" right there and "watch" what happened to these women, who were just looking for a companion, financial support, a job, or overall a better life.

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Created Jun 19, 2003 at 10:57pm • Submit your own review...