Police in Virginia on Friday confirmed they have taken an alleged serial killer into custody, saying that the man killed at least four people after human remains were found earlier this week.
Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis told reporters during a press conference that Anthony Robinson, 35, is in custody in connection to the four slayings.
Two victims were positively identified, one victim was tentatively identified and one victim was unknown, Davis and Harrisonburg, Virginia, Police Chief Kelley Warner said.
The remains of two people were found on Wednesday in a wooded area in Alexandria, Virginia. The remains were in a container near a shopping cart in the Virginia city.
Officials also confirmed that the two positively identified victims were female and found dead in a lot in Harrisonburg, Virginia last month.
The two confirmed victims were identified as Allene Elizabeth Redmon, 54, and Tonita Lorice Smith, 39.
Police said another one of the victims was a 29-year-old woman but they have not confirmed her identity.
Investigators believe Robinson targeted his victims on dating sites and met them at motels in Virginia, Davis told reporters. Investigators have called Robinson the “shopping cart killer” because they believe he allegedly transported victims’ remains using a shopping cart, Davis said.
“Our Shopping Cart Killer does unspeakable things with his victims,” Davis said.
Robinson was arrested last month after video surveillance and cell phone records connected him to the remains found in Harrisonburg, Warner told reporters.
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Davis called Robinson a “predator” who preyed on the “weak” and “vulnerable.”
Officials added that law enforcement agencies will be working retroactively to determine if there are other potential victims who could be linked to Robinson.
“We need to act right now with our law enforcement partners to figure out who else our killer has had contact with, and what’s his MO — dating sites, motels, blunt force trauma, shopping cart, final resting place,” Davis said.
Officials also confirmed during the press conference that charges are “forthcoming” against Robinson in Fairfax County.
