Digital Demon: The Story Of John Edward Robinson "The Internet's First Serial Killer"

Con Man and predator John Edward Robinson utilized his manipulative charm as well as online chatrooms to meet and eventually murder several women throughout the Midwest

Depiction of John Edward Robinson

Background

In the early 1990s, the modern internet as we know it was still in its infancy. At that time, most people were not yet active regular users. However, for those who were, the early Internet chatrooms provided a sense of community and belonging for those who shared similar interests and hobbies.

Some of these chatrooms catered to people involved in alternative lifestyles or niche interests that were outside of the mainstream. Before there were sites like Reddit, fans and enthusiasts of various topics would congregate in these chatrooms.

One of these early adopters of online communication was a very sick and deeply disturbed man named John Edward Robinson, who by the time he was brought to justice for his crimes had been dubbed “The Internet’s First Serial Killer.”

John Edward Robinson's criminal odys…