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Forensics, autopsies dominate third day of Robinson murder trial

Washington D.C. forensic scientist Samantha Dixon, right, answers questions about a shopping cart found with the body of Sonya Champ in the city during Anthony Eugene Robinson's murder trial Wednesday.
Daniel Lin/Pool Photo
Washington D.C. forensic scientist Samantha Dixon, right, answers questions about a shopping cart found with the body of Sonya Champ in the city during Anthony Eugene Robinson's murder trial Wednesday.

The prosecutor nearly finished presenting evidence in the Anthony Robinson murder trial on Wednesday, and the judge said the jury should expect to begin their deliberations on Thursday. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.

On the third day of trial, Commonwealth's Attorney Marsha Garst questioned nearly a dozen forensic scientists, toxicologists, and medical examiners about autopsies and test results from four women's death investigations. Robinson stands accused of murdering two – Allene "Beth" Redmon and Tonita Smith – in Harrisonburg in late 2021. He is also a suspect in the case of Cheyenne Brown, whose body was discovered in Fairfax County that December, and Sonya Champ, whose body was discovered in Washington, D.C. that September.

Another woman, Stephanie Harrison, whose body was found with Brown's in Alexandria, has not been brought up at trial.

Anthony Eugene Robinson is led into Rockingham County Circuit Court on the third day of his murder trial Wednesday.
Daniel Lin/Pool Photo
Anthony Eugene Robinson is led into Rockingham County Circuit Court on the third day of his murder trial Wednesday.

Samantha Dixon, a forensic scientist who collected evidence in the Champ case, testified that Champ's body was found in a shopping cart covered by a plaid blanket, "completely nude with the exception of socks on both feet" and her shirt hiked up around her neck. Police found both Redmon and Smith in the same state of undress, with socks on. Security camera footage from a nearby veterinary clinic showed a man police identified as Robinson pushing a shopping cart with a mound covered by a plaid blanket. Dr. Tatyana Zinger, a D.C. medical examiner, testified that Champ's body was in "a moderate state of decomposition," which obscured the exact cause of death. The totality of the circumstances caused her to determine the manner of death was homicide. Robinson's DNA was found on Champ's breast and thigh, and on the handle of the shopping cart.

The jury also heard testimony from detectives from Fairfax County, who found Cheyenne Brown's body in a garbage can next to a shopping cart near the Moon Inn in Alexandria. Metro surveillance footage shows Brown meeting Robinson at one train station in D.C. on September 30, and exiting a station in Alexandria. Cell phone data placed both Brown and Robinson in the area of the Moon Inn that day. Brown's blood was later found on the mattress in the room Robinson rented.

Fairfax County Police Department Detective Courtney Young, right, answers questions from Commonwealth's Attorney Marsha Garst about a shopping cart and trash can found in Alexandria in connection with Cheyenne Brown's death.
Daniel Lin/Pool Photo
Fairfax County Police Department Detective Courtney Young, right, answers questions from Commonwealth's Attorney Marsha Garst about a shopping cart and trash can found in Alexandria in connection with Cheyenne Brown's death.

Forensic toxicologist Meghan Hessler testified that she found PCP in Brown's body, but not enough to be consistent with an overdose. She agreed with Robinson's defense attorney, Louis Nagy, that the levels of the drug could have theoretically been higher at the time of death, and degraded in the few months before the body was found. The medical examiner, Dr. Carmen Coles, said Brown's body was in an advanced state of decomposition and "partly skeletonized," which hindered her ability to determine the exact cause of death. She ruled the manner of death was homicide.

Louis Nagy, one of two court-appointed defense attorneys for Anthony Eugene Robinson, addresses Rockingham County Circuit Court Judge Bruce D. Albertson at the start of the third day of the trial Wednesday.
Daniel Lin/Pool Photo
Louis Nagy, one of two court-appointed defense attorneys for Anthony Eugene Robinson, addresses Rockingham County Circuit Court Judge Bruce D. Albertson at the start of the third day of the trial Wednesday.

Forensic Scientist Tim McClure testified about several DNA samples taken from the scene in Harrisonburg. In layman's terms, he 'matched' Robinson's DNA to sperm found on a towel left on Smith's face, and to DNA under her fingernails and on her bra. Both their DNA and Redmon's were all found on bedsheets in Robinson's motel room, including samples taken from bloodstains.

Garst ended the day by questioning Dr. Eli Goodman, a medical examiner, about the autopsy he performed on Smith's body. She displayed autopsy photos to the jury which showed petechiae in the whites of her eyes and eyelids – in other words, burst blood vessels – which Goodman said are "often seen in cases of strangulation." The amount of blood indicated to him that "more force" was used. He also testified that Smith's hands were bound behind her back so tightly, the rope was "digging into her flesh."

Garst planned to finish questioning Goodman on Thursday morning, which will conclude the prosecution's evidence. Nagy said he does not expect the defendant to testify, and he has little evidence to introduce and no other witnesses. After closing arguments, the jury will begin their deliberations on Thursday.

Randi B. Hagi first joined the WMRA team in 2019 as a freelance reporter. Her work has been featured on NPR and other NPR member stations; in The Harrisonburg Citizen, where she previously served as the assistant editor;The Mennonite; Mennonite World Review; and Eastern Mennonite University's Crossroads magazine.
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