Robert Sylvester Alston: The Greensboro Serial Killer
Early Life and Background
Robert Sylvester Alston was born on May 19, 1969, in Greensboro, North Carolina. Raised by his father, Jack, a school custodian, and his mother, Dorothy, a factory worker, Alston was one of two children in a modest yet stable family. During his time at Grimsley High School, he was known for his introverted nature, struggling to connect with peers and refraining from extracurricular activities. After graduating in 1987, Alston briefly attended a junior college in Georgia but dropped out after one semester. He entered a relationship that led to the birth of two sons, but he eventually abandoned his family and returned to Greensboro, where he took on various low-skilled jobs, including working as a dishwasher at the Rock-Ola Cafe on Battleground Avenue.
Series of Murders
Between 1991 and 1993, Alston committed a series of heinous crimes in Greensboro, targeting young Black women who were either involved in prostitution or struggling with drug addiction. He lured his victims using his dark blue Pontiac, leading them to secluded areas where he would assault, strangle, and, in some cases, dismember them.
First Victim: JoAnne Robinson
In April 1991, Alston's first confirmed victim was 23-year-old JoAnne Robinson, a prostitute battling crack cocaine addiction. He strangled her and disposed of her naked body just blocks from his residence.
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