Stephanie Harrison, a 48-year-old white woman from Redding, California, was identified as one of the victims in a disturbing series of homicides linked to a suspected serial killer operating across multiple states. Her body was discovered on December 15, 2021, near a shopping cart outside the Moon Inn Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia. The remains were found inside a container alongside those of another victim, 29-year-old Cheyenne Brown.
Authorities used DNA analysis to confirm the identities of both women.
Investigators believe that Stephanie Harrison was lured to the hotel through a dating app by the alleged perpetrator, 35-year-old Anthony Eugene Robinson of Washington, D.C. Robinson had previously been arrested in November 2021 and charged with the murders of two other women—Allene Elizabeth Redmon, 54, and Tonita Lorice Smith, 39—whose bodies were found in Harrisonburg, Virginia. In each case, the victims' remains were discovered near or inside shopping carts, leading law enforcement to refer to the suspect as the “Shopping Cart Killer.”
Although Robinson had not yet been formally charged in the deaths of Stephanie Harrison and Cheyenne Brown at the time of reporting, he was named the primary suspect. Investigators cited digital evidence, hotel receipts, and surveillance footage placing him at the Moon Inn Hotel during the time of Brown's disappearance. Authorities also noted that Robinson had stayed at the same hotel on multiple occasions, raising concerns about a broader pattern of behavior.
The cause of death for Stephanie Harrison was still under investigation, with the medical examiner unable to determine a definitive cause at the time. Despite this, law enforcement officials expressed confidence in the connection between Robinson and Harrison's death, citing similarities in the method of disposal and the use of dating apps to lure victims. The FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit was brought in to assist with profiling, and over 35 law enforcement agencies were involved in reviewing missing persons cases that might be linked to Robinson.
Stephanie Harrison was remembered by her family as a beloved mother and grandmother who was generous and kind-hearted. Her daughter described her as someone who would give her last dime to help others. The tragedy of her death, along with those of the other victims, underscored the dangers posed by predators who exploit online platforms to target vulnerable individuals. The investigation into Robinson's alleged crimes remains ongoing.
