Amos Earl Robinson: A Trail of Murder in Florida
Background and Criminal Partnership
Amos Earl Robinson became known as one of the men responsible for a violent series of kidnappings, sexual assaults and murders in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. Robinson frequently committed crimes with Abron Scott, another convicted murderer. Authorities have described the two men as serial rapists and killers whose known violence began during the summer of 1983 and continued even after Robinson was sent to prison.
The pair targeted people who appeared vulnerable or who could be overpowered after leaving bars, workplaces or other public locations. Their crimes involved abduction, robbery, severe beatings, sexual assault and the deliberate concealment of bodies. For decades, the complete extent of their activity remained unclear because several murders were either unsolved, prosecuted against the wrong person or supported by too little evidence to reach trial.
The Murder of Linda Lansen
Linda Toni Lansen, a 41-year-old Tampa woman, was killed on July 11, 1983. Her body was found in bushes near the end of Memorial Highway in the Town 'n' Country area of Hillsborough County. She had been sexually assaulted and shot in the head before being abandoned in the secluded location.
The killing remained unsolved for nearly four decades. Investigators later reexamined preserved forensic evidence while reviewing another wrongful conviction. Modern DNA testing linked Robinson and Scott to evidence from Lansen's murder. A Hillsborough County grand jury indicted both men in 2022 on charges connected to her rape and killing.
The Murder of Barbara Grams
Barbara Grams was 19 years old when she was attacked after leaving work in Tampa on the night of August 18, 1983. She was walking home from her job at the Tampa Bay Center mall when she disappeared. Her body was discovered behind a dental office in the Tampa Heights area on August 19. Investigators determined that she had been sexually assaulted and beaten to death.
The investigation initially focused on Robert DuBoise, a young man who was convicted largely through unreliable evidence. DuBoise spent approximately 37 years in prison before DNA testing proved that he was not responsible. The same reinvestigation that cleared DuBoise produced evidence linking Robinson and Scott to the crime.
Robinson and Scott were indicted for Grams's murder in 2022. Scott later pleaded guilty to the murders of both Grams and Lansen and received additional life sentences. Robinson remained separately charged and faced the possibility of a death sentence if convicted.
The Suspected Murder of Hermenia Castro
Hermenia Castro, 55, was found dead on September 5, 1983, in a vacant lot in East Tampa. She had reportedly been shot, placed inside the trunk of a car and subjected to an attempt to destroy evidence by fire.
Robinson and another man were charged in connection with Castro's killing during the 1990s. Prosecutors ultimately dismissed the case because they believed the available evidence was insufficient to secure a conviction. Castro's death has nevertheless remained associated with the series of murders attributed or potentially connected to Robinson and his associates.
The Kidnapping and Murder of Carlos Orellana
Robinson's best-documented murder conviction involved Carlos Orellana, a 33-year-old office manager and part-time shoe salesman. During the early morning hours of October 22, 1983, Robinson and Scott confronted Orellana outside a bar on Kennedy Boulevard in Tampa.
The men beat Orellana unconscious, forced him into the back seat of his own Toyota Celica and drove him to an isolated area near Oldsmar in Pinellas County. Once there, Scott continued beating and choking him. Robinson attempted to strike Orellana with the vehicle, and Scott eventually drove the car over him.
The automobile became stuck in the sand while Orellana was pinned beneath it. Two passing motorists, unaware of the murder, helped Robinson and Scott free the vehicle. The killers then moved Orellana's body into a wooded area, stole his money, jewelry and car, and fled.
Robinson and Scott were arrested about two weeks later at the home of Robinson's mother in Jackson County. Robinson was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping and robbery. He initially received a death sentence, although that sentence was later overturned during the appeals process and replaced with life imprisonment.
Violence While Imprisoned
Robinson's violence did not end after his incarceration. Authorities have stated that he killed two fellow prisoners while serving his sentence. The inmate deaths contributed to Robinson's reputation as a continuing danger and reinforced the view that the murder of Carlos Orellana was not an isolated act.
Reports have identified the slain inmates as Arturi Verra, who died on January 14, 1998, and Sang Nguyen, who died on November 11, 2004. Publicly available descriptions of these prison killings are limited compared with the extensive records surrounding the 1983 Tampa cases.
Known and Suspected Victims
- Linda Toni Lansen, 41 – Killed on July 11, 1983, in Tampa, Florida. Her body was found near Memorial Highway in the Town 'n' Country area. She had been sexually assaulted, shot in the head and left in bushes. Robinson was later indicted in connection with her murder.
- Barbara Grams, 19 – Attacked on August 18, 1983, after leaving work in Tampa. Her body was discovered on August 19 behind a dental office in Tampa Heights. She had been sexually assaulted and beaten to death. Robinson was indicted after DNA evidence helped overturn the wrongful conviction of Robert DuBoise.
- Hermenia Castro, 55 – Found dead on September 5, 1983, in a vacant lot in East Tampa. She had been shot and placed in the trunk of a burned vehicle. Robinson was charged years later, but the case was dismissed because of insufficient evidence.
- Carlos Orellana, 33 – Murdered on October 22, 1983, after being abducted outside a Tampa bar. He was beaten, robbed and run over with his own car near Oldsmar in Pinellas County. Robinson and Abron Scott were convicted of his murder.
- Arturi Verra, 22 – Died on January 14, 1998, while imprisoned in Florida. His death has been identified as one of the inmate killings attributed to Robinson.
- Sang Nguyen, 29 – Died on November 11, 2004, while incarcerated. His killing has also been attributed to Robinson, although detailed public accounts of the circumstances are limited.
Arrest, Conviction and Sentencing
Robinson was arrested in late October 1983 after investigators traced Carlos Orellana's stolen vehicle to Robinson and Scott. Physical evidence, possession of the automobile and Robinson's recorded confession helped prosecutors build the case against him.
A jury convicted Robinson of first-degree murder, kidnapping and robbery. He was sentenced to death, but the Florida Supreme Court affirmed his conviction while overturning the death sentence because of errors during the penalty phase. Robinson was ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment.
The later DNA investigation into the murders of Barbara Grams and Linda Lansen dramatically expanded the public understanding of Robinson's crimes. Evidence preserved for decades not only exonerated an innocent man but also led prosecutors to identify Robinson and Scott as the alleged perpetrators of two additional killings.
Legacy of the Case
The crimes attributed to Amos Earl Robinson illustrate how violent offenders can remain connected to unsolved cases long after their original convictions. The 1983 murders occurred within a period of only several months, yet investigators required nearly 40 years and advances in DNA testing to connect some of the cases.
The wrongful conviction in the Barbara Grams case also became a major example of the consequences of unreliable forensic practices. While Robinson and Scott remained imprisoned for Carlos Orellana's murder, Robert DuBoise lost nearly four decades of his life for a crime he did not commit.
Robinson's confirmed murder conviction, the cold-case indictments, the suspected killing of Hermenia Castro and the murders committed during his imprisonment form a record of sustained violence. The cases left several families waiting decades for answers and demonstrated the importance of preserving physical evidence so that older crimes can be reinvestigated as forensic science improves.
