John Edward Robinson's Psychology
What made John Robinson so manipulative?
4.1 (39)
44 mins
Uncover the psychology behind John Edward Robinson, a longtime con artist who built an outward image of a respectable family man while repeatedly deceiving and exploiting people. Explore how he targeted vulnerable women, used romance, promises of employment and elaborate lies to gain their trust, and later used early internet chatrooms to find women interested in BDSM.
Ep 1:
The Scoutmaster's Shadow
Meet the Eagle Scout who sang for the Queen and the Kansas City suburbanite who became a con man—two faces of the same unsettling man, John Edward Robinson.
Ep 2:
Barrels, Babies, and a Hidden Hunter
Behind EquiPlus and EquiTwo lies a trail of vanished women, forged letters, and a stolen infant sold to Robinson's own unsuspecting brother—a betrayal that defies belief.
Ep 3:
Slave Master: A Killer Goes Online
Fresh from prison, Robinson trades BDSM chat rooms and fake personas for new prey, luring vulnerable women online with promises of love, money, and escape—few ever return.
Ep 4:
The Barrels Open, The Verdict Falls
A storage unit, a farm in Linn, and five rusted barrels finally expose Robinson's horrors, leading to a historic trial, a chilling tape, and a jury's final judgment.
Discussions (5)
Abel
Level 4 · 1 week agoThe forged letters are what gets me. No body, no witnesses, just a typed note saying "I'm fine, don't look for me" and investigators fold every time. That playbook worked for over 15 years.
Colton
Level 10 · 1 week agoRobinson really did perform at the London Palladium for Queen Elizabeth in 1957 and the Judy Garland kiss was confirmed by the Chicago Tribune. That part is 100% real.
Lazarus
Level 2 · 1 week agoRobinson's mother being cold doesn't explain anything. Plenty of people had strict parents and didn't end up stuffing bodies in barrels.
