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HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — A jury has found Anthony Eugene Robinson guilty on 6 charges in Harrisonburg and Rockingham Circuit Court in connection with the deaths of two women, whose bodies were found in a shopping cart off of Linda Lane in Harrisonburg back in November of 2021. The jury deliberated for less than an hour.
Robinson was found guilty on:
- Two counts of first-degree murder
- Two counts of concealing a body
- Two counts of aggravated murder
Family members of Allene Redmon and Tonita Smith react as Anthony Eugene Robinson is declared guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated murder, and two counts of concealing a dead body.
On day four of the trial, the prosecution rested its case by the middle of the day after calling several witnesses. The last witness was the continuing testimony from Dr. Eli Goodman, the medical examiner, on the autopsies of Tonita Smith and Beth Redmon. He testified that the manner of death for both was homicide. However, due to the decomposition it was difficult to determine a specific cause of death. It was ruled as “homicide by violence undetermined.”
The defense then presented its case and did not call any witnesses to the stand.
Attorneys for both sides then gave their closing arguments before the jury began its deliberations. Prosecutor Marsha Garst said during her closing argument that the defendant silenced Tonita Smith and Beth Redmon but, “cannot silence me.” She showed photos of the victims before their deaths along with their autopsy photos to the jury. She called him a, “hunter and predator.”
Defense attorney, Louis Nagy, asked the jury to look at the evidence and the mistakes made in the process. He mentioned how a similar shopping cart was used in by hotel staff in surveillance footage at Howard Johnson and the glass vials that were not taken into evidence. Nagy brought up inconsistencies with the testimony of Trenton Mowbray, who was in a cell next to Robinson. Nagy said he should not be rewarded; he should be indicted on perjury.
Garst returned in her closing to say that “the law and facts are against Robinson beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Robinson, who was dubbed the “Shopping Cart Killer,” could face life in prison when he is sentenced on September 17th. The jury recommended 4 life counts plus 10 years, and a $400,000 fine.
To read about the days of the trial click below.
The “Shopping Cart Killer” trial continues with submitting of evidence – Rocktown Now