In the fall of 2021, two Virginia women seeking companionship through online dating apps walked into what would become a fatal trap. Allene “Beth” Redmon, 54, and Tonita Lorice Smith, 39, never imagined their search for connection would lead them to a predator who would brutally end their lives and dispose of their bodies in one of the most chilling manners imaginable.

Both women connected with Anthony Eugene Robinson, a man from Washington, D.C., through dating platforms. What began as hopeful conversations quickly turned deadly. Redmon was last seen alive around October 24, 2021, while Smith disappeared in mid-November. Their bodies were discovered on November 23, 2021, in an undeveloped lot behind a Howard Johnson motel in Harrisonburg, Virginia, just feet apart.

Surveillance footage from the motel captured the horrifying sequence. Both women were seen entering Robinson’s room on separate occasions. They were never seen leaving alive. Instead, cameras recorded Robinson wheeling a large shopping cart covered with sheets and blankets out of the room in the dead of night — the now-infamous method that earned him the moniker “Shopping Cart Killer.”

Investigators found overwhelming evidence linking Robinson to the crimes. DNA, phone records, and video footage placed him with both victims in the same motel room where the murders allegedly occurred. Autopsies revealed signs of violence, though the advanced state of decomposition in one case complicated exact cause-of-death determinations. Redmon’s hands were reportedly bound when found, adding to the brutality of the case.

Robinson was arrested shortly after the bodies were discovered. In January 2025, a jury convicted him of two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated murder, and two counts of concealing a dead body. On May 23, 2026, a judge sentenced him to multiple life sentences, ensuring he will never walk free again.

The case sent shockwaves through Virginia and the broader dating app community. It highlighted the hidden dangers lurking behind seemingly normal profiles — a reminder that predators can easily hide behind charming messages and fake personas. Redmon and Smith were mothers and family members with dreams and loved ones. Their tragic deaths underscore how quickly a casual online meetup can turn into a nightmare.

Authorities believe Robinson may be connected to additional unsolved cases in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas, where other women’s bodies were also found near shopping carts. While those investigations continue, the families of Redmon and Smith finally received justice this week.

In an era where dating apps are a primary way people meet, this case serves as a grim warning. What seems like a harmless connection can sometimes conceal pure evil. Beth and Tonita went looking for love — instead, they found a monster who treated their lives as disposable.