Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story

get away with this. I won't let you.

What the hell are you talking about?

Don't pretend you don't know, Colette.

He told me.

Who's he?

What are you talking about?

I saw what you wrote.

You said I'm an unfit mother?

You're trying to take Tiffany away from me?

Who was telling you all this is lying? It's not true.

I, uh... I don't know what's real anymore.

He said sign these papers. There's four pieces of paper, so I signed them. I

said don't you sign anything. Do you hear me? Don't sign anything.

He's coming back. I gotta go.

How come I haven't met Uncle John?

He's been sick for a while. We haven't been able to visit him since you were a

baby.

Sick with what?

A lot. He's had a heart attack.

He had a stroke.

So if you guys both die, I have to go live with him?

Father, Tiffany Robinson.

Don't you even say that?

Well, she's right. That's what a godfather is, any way you slice it.

Why'd you pick him for that?

It was easy.

Without him, we couldn't have adopted you.

He's the one that found you for us.

Found me where?

You know, we'll tell you all about that stuff when you're a bit older, okay,

honey?

Watch yourself on that step there. I fixed it, but it's still a little wonky.

Come on in, everybody.

All right.

Our casa is su casa.

Right, hon?

You know, since the kids are grown, we couldn't handle that much space. Yeah,

sure. And North Bay has been great. Good?

Oh, yeah.

Good neighbors.

Quiet.

Real quiet.

Oh.

Well.

You must be Heather then.

Guess who that is?

I had more hair back then.

I was an Eagle Scout.

And you know, they flew us all the way to London, England to sing

for the Queen.

The actual Queen of England.

Believe it?

You know, Heather, you don't have to be so shy.

I know you a long time.

And I was there the day you became part of...

See all these awards?

What do you think?

Do you want all those?

Sure.

Some of them. Back when I was your age.

Oh.

Look there.

That's me.

And that's you.

They'll kill you.

Did

your

dad ever tell you that I helped with your adoption?

in the kitchen is real.

Lots of kids aren't as lucky as you.

You know that, right?

You're very special.

You're different than everyone else.

I'll have to go and help you.

I promise.

I'll tell you about it someday.

Pinky swear.

John Edward Robinson.

You were supposed to report here on the 17th.

My apologies.

I was away on business.

And by the time I got your letter, I was already late.

What kind of business are you in?

Consulting. Mostly.

Consulting who? About what?

I'm a little confused, Miss Coy.

My probation is in... Kansas.

I'm not sure why I'm being called to report in Missouri.

Tell me about Kansas City Outreach.

Sure.

It's a program that was created by myself and other area

businessmen to provide housing for unwed mothers, as well as job

training, babysitting.

Okay, so this is a charity that you started.

Yes.

Felony conviction in 1967 for stealing from your employer.

Felony arrest in 68 for theft at your new place of work.

Misdemeanor arrest in 69, theft at the workplace.

Starting to see a pattern.

That was a long time ago. One more in 69, arrest for embezzlement.

In 1976, convicted of mail fraud.

In 77, you forged the mayor's signature to publicly award yourself Man of the

Year. For your work with the disabled.

Did you actually do any work with the disabled?

Is the purpose of this meeting to embarrass me, Miss Coy?

I didn't break my parole in Kansas.

So I ask you again.

With respect.

Why?

Am I being called here?

I got a call from someone at the Birdsong Women's Shelter in Overland

She said you approached them in early December looking for young single

to place in a work program. I asked if we could be of service. You told her it

was sponsored by the Olathe Credit Union, where you sat on the board of

directors.

the board of the Kansas City Outreach. Our bank is the Olathe Credit Union.

Sounds like they should have been writing this down.

Mr. Robinson, I see repeat offenders every day.

You're not the only one with a folder this thick. A con man is always looking

get over on someone else. So I wonder...

What's in it for you?

I don't see the angle here.

There is no angle.

I made some mistakes in my life.

I'm trying to find a way to get back.

And that's what I figured you'd say.

We could have done this by phone.

If there's nothing else... I

have a long ride back home.

If I have to call on you again, I don't want to ask twice.

Hello, can I help you with something?

Good afternoon, ma 'am.

I'm Lena Coy. I'm with the Missouri Department of Parole and Probation.

Oh, no. Is someone in trouble?

Oh, no. No trouble. I've been going around to the women's shelters in the

to ask if anyone has been contacted by a fellow named John Robinson.

It would have been back in early January.

Doesn't ring a bell.

The only other person is Gil, I can ask.

He said he was representing a group called the Kansas City Outreach.

Oh, you mean John Osborne. I spoke with him. Nice guy.

John Osborne?

Yeah, we connected him with Lisa.

Lisa. Lisa who?

Lisa Stacy.

She was here sometime after the New Year's. Oh, she had a baby girl named

Tiffany.

Oh, I'm so glad they landed back on their feet. That baby was as cute as all

out. So Lisa and her baby were placed in the outreach program?

Well, they were, but she backed out, found herself a new man, ran off to

family together.

I think she mentioned Colorado.

You spoke to her about this?

No, she wrote us a letter in January.

Said she was doing great, Tiffany was great, thanking us for our help, you

Do you still have this letter?

I know what I want, and I'm going to go after it.

While I am truly grateful for Mr. Osborne's help, I realize that I need to

on and make my own way.

Please don't worry about me.

I'm a big girl, and I know what is best for Tiffany and me.

I'll write more as soon as I can.

Lots of love, Lisa.

Colette Dennings.

Lisa split from my son right before Christmas.

Some big fight.

Dean took off for the Army, and Lisa took Tiffany to stay at a shelter.

We helped out when we could while she tried to find a job.

And that was when she met John. You know him as John Osborne?

She said he was going to help her get her GED, set her up with a place to

I kept saying, do you even know this guy?

But she had a very trusting nature.

Anyway, he set her up in Overland Park, a motel.

Harrow. The Harrow Inn.

That night I get a call, and it's Lisa.

And she's freaking out, accusing me of trying to take Tiffany away from her.

I'm trying to calm her down, and she says they made her sign on some papers

them, she said.

And then she says something like, he's coming back, I gotta go.

She was gone.

I called the motel the next morning.

They said Lisa and Tiff had already been checked out, and that's when I knew.

I knew something bad had happened.

So the police were made aware of John at that time.

John Osborne.

I gave his name when we filed the report.

Then we all got the letters.

You got letters?

That's supposedly from her.

Lisa's mom got one out in Alabama.

So did the shelter where she was staying.

You don't think Lisa wrote this?

Maybe it's her signature.

But it's not her words, that's for sure.

He said they made her sign on four sheets of paper. You've got one in your

right there. Lisa's mom got another.

In safe house.

Maybe there's one more out there. Did the police see that?

They saw the one from the shelter.

They wondered why we still thought she was missing.