True story of Heather Robinson kidnapped by serial killer uncle who hid bodies in barrels & called himself ‘Slavemaster'
THE woman who was kidnapped by a serial killer and sold to his family is having her story retold in a new movie.
At just five months old, Tiffany Stasi was snatched from her mother Lisa, by killer John Robinson in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1985.
Advertisement
9
Heather Robinson was 15 years old when she discovered the dark truth about her uncle and her true identity
Credit: ABC 20/20
9
John Edward Robinson has been linked to the murders of eight women
9
Police found the bodies of Robinson's victims in barrels on his property in 2000
Credit: ABC 20/20
She would not find out the dark truth about her life and her sick uncle for another 15 years when he was revealed to be a serial killer whose victims included her own mother.
It is the focus of a new film Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story that airs tonight.
Tiffany was brought up as Heather Robinson by her adoptive parents Don and Frieda Robinson.
But in 2000, her uncle John Robinson, Don's brother, was arrested after bodies of multiple women were discovered in barrels on his property as part of an investigation into missing people.
Advertisement
read more on true crime
It was then, when she was 15 years old, that Heather learned Robinson had kidnapped her and handed her to his family for an illegal adoption for which he got $5,500.
Her biological mother, Lisa, met Robinson after she went to a woman's shelter following a split with Heather's dad.
Robinson said he would help the pair find a home but instead he brutally killed her mother and sold the baby to his brother and sister-in-law who thought they were legally adopting her.
He had claimed 19-year-old Lisa committed suicide in a hotel room.
Advertisement
Most read in The US Sun
Exclusive
By the time of his arrest in 2000, the then 56-year-old had been linked to the murders of eight women.
He had a lengthy criminal record that included fraud and embezzlement and had tricked people with the alias of John Osbourne.
My dad spied on my sister with hidden cameras & stalked her at work before she vanished at 17 - I'm convinced he killed her despite serial killer confession
The depths of his depravity were not uncovered until a woman came forward accusing him of sexual assault and theft which led to a police search at his home near La Cygne, Kansas.
He had already been named as a person of interest in a number of cases across Missouri and Kansas of missing women.
Advertisement
HOUSE OF HORRORS
When cops scoured his farmland, they found barrels containing the decomposing bodies of Izabela Lewicka and Suzette Trouten.
Lewicka was reported missing in 1999 and Trouten in 2000.
The bodies of Beverly Bonner, Sheila Faith, and her daughter, Debbie Faith were later found at two storage units he rented in Missouri.
After his arrest, Heather's DNA was tested which confirmed the truth about her adoption and the forged certificates.
Advertisement
In 2002, Robinson went on trial for the murders of Trouten, Lewicka, and Lisa Stasi, though her body was never recovered.
He was found guilty of all counts and handed two death sentences and a life sentence as well as convicted for the kidnap and false adoption of Heather.
A year later, he received more life sentences after pleading guilty to the murders of Paula Godfrey, Catherine Clampitt, Beverly Bonner, and Sheila and Debbie Faith.
9
Aerial view of serial killer John Robinson's home in Linn County, Kansas
Credit: Getty
Advertisement
9
Lisa Stasi's remains have never been recovered but Robinson was found guilty of her murder
Credit: ABC 20/20
9
Heather, then Tiffany Stasi, before being snatched by Robinson
Credit: ABC 20/20
9
Heather's story plays out in a brand new movie on Lifetime
Despite two life sentences being overturned in 2015, Robinson remains on death row at the age of 81.
Advertisement
He was found to have been one of the first killers to use the internet to lure in victims, speaking to women in online chat rooms under the username "slavemaster".
I'd be dead. I would be in that barrel.
Heather Robinson
Authorities discovered that with some of his victims, Robinson engaged in sadomasochistic sex and master-slave relationships before killing them, per
In a rare interview with
She said that while she was growing up, Uncle John "gave me this really weird, off-putting feeling in the pit of my stomach."
Advertisement
"It's like walking down a dark alley in the middle of the night while you know someone is behind you, approaching you closer and closer."
Heather also claimed that just months before Robinson's arrest, she nearly ended up as one of his murder victims.
At a wedding in Florida, she said he asked her sexual questions and offered to pay for a plane ticket so she could stay with him.
Had she said yes, Heather said: "I'd be dead. I would be in that barrel".
Advertisement
Lisa's remains have still not been recovered with Heather continuing efforts to try to find her biological mother to have her buried on a family plot.
Heather Tiffany Robinson was eventually legally adopted by Don and Frieda at the age of 18.
Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story airs on June 7 on Lifetime at 8/7c.
9
Kidnapped by a killer: The Heather Robinson Story airs on June 7
Credit: Lifetime
Advertisement
9
Depiction of Heather and Uncle John in Kidnapped by a killer
Credit: Lifetime
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
True story of Heather Robinson kidnapped by serial killer uncle who hid bodies in barrels & called himself ‘Slavemaster'
THE woman who was kidnapped by a serial killer and sold to his family is having her story retold in a new movie. At just five months old, Tiffany Stasi was snatched from her mother Lisa, by killer John Robinson in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1985. Advertisement 9 Heather Robinson was 15 years old when she discovered the dark truth about her uncle and her true identity Credit: ABC 20/20 9 John Edward Robinson has been linked to the murders of eight women 9 Police found the bodies of Robinson's victims in barrels on his property in 2000 Credit: ABC 20/20 She would not find out the dark truth about her life and her sick uncle for another 15 years when he was revealed to be a serial killer whose victims included her own mother. It is the focus of a new film Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story that airs tonight. Tiffany was brought up as Heather Robinson by her adoptive parents Don and Frieda Robinson. But in 2000, her uncle John Robinson, Don's brother, was arrested after bodies of multiple women were discovered in barrels on his property as part of an investigation into missing people. Advertisement read more on true crime It was then, when she was 15 years old, that Heather learned Robinson had kidnapped her and handed her to his family for an illegal adoption for which he got $5,500. Her biological mother, Lisa, met Robinson after she went to a woman's shelter following a split with Heather's dad. Robinson said he would help the pair find a home but instead he brutally killed her mother and sold the baby to his brother and sister-in-law who thought they were legally adopting her. He had claimed 19-year-old Lisa committed suicide in a hotel room. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Exclusive By the time of his arrest in 2000, the then 56-year-old had been linked to the murders of eight women. He had a lengthy criminal record that included fraud and embezzlement and had tricked people with the alias of John Osbourne. My dad spied on my sister with hidden cameras & stalked her at work before she vanished at 17 - I'm convinced he killed her despite serial killer confession The depths of his depravity were not uncovered until a woman came forward accusing him of sexual assault and theft which led to a police search at his home near La Cygne, Kansas. He had already been named as a person of interest in a number of cases across Missouri and Kansas of missing women. Advertisement HOUSE OF HORRORS When cops scoured his farmland, they found barrels containing the decomposing bodies of Izabela Lewicka and Suzette Trouten. Lewicka was reported missing in 1999 and Trouten in 2000. The bodies of Beverly Bonner, Sheila Faith, and her daughter, Debbie Faith were later found at two storage units he rented in Missouri. After his arrest, Heather's DNA was tested which confirmed the truth about her adoption and the forged certificates. Advertisement In 2002, Robinson went on trial for the murders of Trouten, Lewicka, and Lisa Stasi, though her body was never recovered. He was found guilty of all counts and handed two death sentences and a life sentence as well as convicted for the kidnap and false adoption of Heather. A year later, he received more life sentences after pleading guilty to the murders of Paula Godfrey, Catherine Clampitt, Beverly Bonner, and Sheila and Debbie Faith. 9 Aerial view of serial killer John Robinson's home in Linn County, Kansas Credit: Getty Advertisement 9 Lisa Stasi's remains have never been recovered but Robinson was found guilty of her murder Credit: ABC 20/20 9 Heather, then Tiffany Stasi, before being snatched by Robinson Credit: ABC 20/20 9 Heather's story plays out in a brand new movie on Lifetime Despite two life sentences being overturned in 2015, Robinson remains on death row at the age of 81. Advertisement He was found to have been one of the first killers to use the internet to lure in victims, speaking to women in online chat rooms under the username "slavemaster". I'd be dead. I would be in that barrel. Heather Robinson Authorities discovered that with some of his victims, Robinson engaged in sadomasochistic sex and master-slave relationships before killing them, per In a rare interview with She said that while she was growing up, Uncle John "gave me this really weird, off-putting feeling in the pit of my stomach." Advertisement "It's like walking down a dark alley in the middle of the night while you know someone is behind you, approaching you closer and closer." Heather also claimed that just months before Robinson's arrest, she nearly ended up as one of his murder victims. At a wedding in Florida, she said he asked her sexual questions and offered to pay for a plane ticket so she could stay with him. Had she said yes, Heather said: "I'd be dead. I would be in that barrel". Advertisement Lisa's remains have still not been recovered with Heather continuing efforts to try to find her biological mother to have her buried on a family plot. Heather Tiffany Robinson was eventually legally adopted by Don and Frieda at the age of 18. Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story airs on June 7 on Lifetime at 8/7c. 9 Kidnapped by a killer: The Heather Robinson Story airs on June 7 Credit: Lifetime Advertisement 9 Depiction of Heather and Uncle John in Kidnapped by a killer Credit: Lifetime
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Hit-and-run driver allegedly told cops victim ‘was just a homeless person'
According to a court report, the victim, identified as 41-year-old Katherine Kipnis, was hit so hard some of her hair was embedded in the BMW's windshield and found on the front passenger headrest Ivana Gomez and the blue BMW she was driving The driver of a BMW who hit a woman so hard her head went through the windscreen allegedly told cops 'it was just a homeless person'. Florida woman Ivana Gomez is in Miami-Dade County jail following the fatal hit-and-run crash. She is behind bars after cops say she fatally struck the pedestrian before driving away. She then dismissed her actions by allegedly saying the victim was 'just a homeless person.' Gomez (32) is facing charges of leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death and resisting an officer without violence. Ivana Gomez and the blue BMW she was driving News in 90 Seconds - 5th June 2025 According to an arrest report, Gomez had passed a police officer while driving the BMW at a high rate of speed moments before she struck the pedestrian. She didn't stop even after the officer activated his lights and siren and only came to a halt when she reached a red light with two vehicles in front of her. The officer noted in the report that Gomez had a strong odour of alcohol on her breath and bloodshot, watery eyes. She declined to complete a sobriety test and requested to speak to an attorney. She was the only one in the car and was arrested. When she was in the back of a patrol car, police said, 'she spontaneously stated that it was just a homeless person that I hit and it is just an accident.' Gomez denied making the statement, insisting: 'I did not say that whatsoever. That's false.' However, Gomez's 'disregard for human life by fleeing the scene and possibly being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage demonstrates a reckless and wanton disregard for the safety of others,' a court report reads. According to a court report, the victim, identified as 41-year-old Katherine Kipnis, was hit so hard some of her hair was embedded in the BMW's windshield and found on the front passenger headrest. Kipnis' cousin who spoke during the hearing, asked the judge to be 'aware of what a shining light has been taken out of this world by the incredible irresponsibility of this defendant'. The victim's father spoke with local ABC affiliate WPLG on Friday. 'My daughter was vivacious, lovable. Everyone really liked her. She was tough, but in a good way,' he told the outlet. 'I just think back, I spoke to her last night at 6 o'clock when she told me, 'I love you, Dad.' That's the last thing she said to me.' Prosecutors say Gomez could face additional charges including vehicular homicide after further investigation.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Tommy Robinson back in court for harassment – just nine days after he was released from prison
TOMMY Robinson is back in court today for harassment - just days after he was released from prison. The far-Right activist - real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon - is accused of targeting two journalists. Advertisement 5 Tommy Robinson is back in court today Credit: Reuters 5 He was surrounded by supporters as he made his way into Westminster Magistrates' Court Credit: Reuters 5 It comes after he was released from jail nine days ago Credit: PA Robinson has arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court for a hearing. The 42-year-old, who was clutching a microphone, was surrounded by supporters. He is charged with two counts of harassment causing fear of violence between August 5 and 7, 2024. It comes just nine days after Robinson was released from prison after a judge ruled he could be freed four months early. Advertisement He was locked up for 18 months in October for contempt of court. Robinson had made multiple breaches of an injunction in 2021, which barred him from repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him for libel. He was pictured leaving HMP Woodhill in Buckinghamshire sporting a full beard and rosary. He was filmed speaking on his X social media channel for around 20 minutes. Advertisement Most read in The Sun When asked how he was feeling, Robinson declared: "Unfortunately the country doesn't believe in free speech." He also said he would organise a free speech festival in London for supporters later in the year. Robinson is facing a separate trial in October next year over an accusation that he failed to provide the Pin for his mobile phone when stopped by Kent Police in Folkestone in July 2024. 5 Robinson appeared more clear-shaven today Credit: AFP Advertisement 5 He was locked up for 18 months for contempt in October Credit: AP
