Warning: Story may contain disturbing details. Reader discretion is advised.

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VA (Rocktown Now) – Day 3 of the trial of Anthony Eugene Robinson started with testimony from Lieutenant Brooke Wetherell, who was the lead investigator. She described that the defendant stated said during the police interview that victims Beth Redmon and Tonita Smith overdosed on a, “white pill,” and that he woke up to discover them dead. Prosecution redirected with Robinson’s statement that at first, he said he did not know the victims before eventually saying he spoke to Beth Redmon on the phone. He could not say why she was found naked except for socks, the sweatshirt cord around her neck, or the plastic bag over her head.

Defense showed video surveillance footage of staff from the Howard Johnson’s hotel using a shopping cart filled with dirty laundry to state that the shopping cart in the footage is similar to the one in evidence. The defense also questioned Lieutenant Wetherell about the door-to-door questioning conducted and why residents of rooms 335 and 337 were not questioned further. Lieutenant Wetherell testified that no alarming comments were made while speaking with officers who did the door-to-door.

Several expert witnesses from D.C. also testified on the forensics and toxicology reports of the victims Cheyenne Brown and Sonya Champ. Photographs and testimony show the victims were found similarly to Tonita Smith and Beth Redmon.

Testimony from the family of Cheyenne Brown gave insight into her health and history with the defendant. Her mother, Nicandra Brown, testified that Cheyenne was pregnant and in good health before being reported missing in October 2021. Her cousin, Jonathan Willis, testified that he saw the defendant in the home he shared with Cheyenne Brown and others on two separate occasions.

The trial is expected to continue for seven days in Rockingham County Circuit Court.