Harvey Miguel Robinson: The Allentown Serial Killer
Overview
In the early 1990s, a wave of terror gripped the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania, as a brutal predator stalked and attacked women in their homes. The assailant, who seemed to strike at random, was responsible for a series of rapes and murders that left the community in fear. The perpetrator was Harvey Miguel Robinson, a teenager who began his violent spree at the age of 17. Over the course of 11 months, Robinson claimed the lives of three females and forever altered the lives of two others who survived his savage attacks. His youth, combined with the sheer brutality of his crimes, made him one of the youngest and most dangerous serial killers in American history. His eventual capture was the result of a courageous survivor who helped police set a trap, ending a reign of terror that had haunted the Lehigh Valley.
Early Life and Background
Harvey Miguel Robinson was born on December 6, 1974, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. His childhood was marred by instability and violence. His father was an abusive alcoholic who victimized Robinson's mother before eventually abandoning the family. This cycle of violence was deeply embedded in the family history; Robinson's father was later convicted and incarcerated for beating his own mistress to death.
From a young age, Robinson exhibited deeply troubling behavior. He had his first arrest at the age of nine and showed signs of a severe conduct disorder in school, marked by threats and violent outbursts. Teachers and peers grew to fear him as his disregard for authority and erratic behavior intensified. Despite being an athletic student who won awards for his essays, he was also frequently in trouble for burglary and resisting arrest. This pattern of escalating criminality and violence set the stage for the horrific acts he would commit as a teenager.
The First Murder: Joan Burghardt
The first known murder committed by Harvey Robinson occurred in August 1992, when he was 17 years old. His victim was Joan Burghardt, a 29-year-old nurse's aide who lived alone in an apartment on Allentown's East Side. On August 5, 1992, Burghardt reported a burglary at her home, telling police that someone had entered her apartment and stolen $40 to $50. The intruder had cut through a screen door to gain entry.
Four days later, on August 9, a neighbor called the police to complain about loud music that had been playing from Burghardt's apartment for days. When officers entered the residence, they discovered a gruesome scene. Joan Burghardt was found dead on her living room floor, having been brutally beaten and raped. The apartment showed signs of a violent struggle, with a large amount of blood on the couch, walls, and floor. An autopsy would later reveal the extent of her injuries, which included 37 separate wounds. Investigators collected DNA evidence from the scene, but at the time, they had no suspect. Coincidentally, shortly after the murder, Robinson was arrested on unrelated burglary charges and spent the next eight months in a juvenile detention facility, a period during which the attacks ceased.
A Spree of Violence in 1993
After his release in May 1993, Robinson's violent attacks resumed with terrifying frequency. On June 9, 1993, he abducted 15-year-old Charlotte Schmoyer, a student at Dieruff High School who was delivering newspapers for *The Morning Call* on her morning route. When customers reported not receiving their papers, a search began. Her abandoned newspaper cart was found, and later that day, her body was discovered in a wooded area at the nearby East Side Reservoir, buried under logs. She had been raped and stabbed 22 times, with a large, gaping wound to her throat.
Less than two weeks later, Robinson's predatory behavior continued. He had been stalking another woman, but upon breaking into her home, he found her in bed with her boyfriend. Undeterred, he went into another room and attacked the woman's five-year-old daughter. He raped and choked the child, leaving her for dead. Miraculously, the little girl survived the horrific assault.
On June 28, 1993, Robinson broke into the home of Denise Sam-Cali, who was home alone while her husband was away. Sam-Cali awoke to noises and was attacked as she tried to flee. The struggle spilled out onto her front lawn, where Robinson raped and beat her, choking her and slashing her lip. Her screams alerted a neighbor, causing Robinson to flee. Sam-Cali, though severely injured, survived and was able to provide a description of her attacker.
Just over two weeks later, on July 14, 1993, Robinson claimed his final victim. He broke into the home of 47-year-old Jessica Jean Fortney, a grandmother. She was found dead in her bed by family members. Fortney had been raped, beaten, and strangled to death. Her face was swollen and blackened from the assault.
The Victims
The victims of Harvey Miguel Robinson came from different walks of life, their only connection being the random, violent acts that ended or forever changed their lives.
- Joan Burghardt, 29 — A nurse's aide who lived in Allentown, she was found murdered in her apartment on August 9, 1992. She was remembered as a caring individual whose life was cut tragically short.
- Charlotte Schmoyer, 15 — A high school student and newspaper carrier, she was abducted and murdered on June 9, 1993, while on her paper route. Her death sent shockwaves through the community, a stark reminder of the predator in their midst.
- Jessica Jean Fortney, 47 — A grandmother living on Allentown's East Side, she was killed in her home on July 14, 1993. Her family was left to grapple with the sudden and violent loss of a loved one.
Two other victims, a five-year-old girl and Denise Sam-Cali, survived Robinson's brutal attacks in June 1993. Their resilience and cooperation with law enforcement were crucial in bringing him to justice.
Investigation and Capture
The series of brutal attacks in the summer of 1993 created a climate of fear in Allentown. Police were hunting for a serial attacker, but the crimes appeared random, with victims of varying ages. The breakthrough in the case came thanks to the courage of survivor Denise Sam-Cali.
After the attack on her, Robinson continued to menace Sam-Cali. On July 18, 1993, just four days after murdering Jessica Fortney, he attempted to break into the Sam-Cali home again, but was thwarted by a newly installed alarm system. Realizing the attacker was likely to return, police devised a plan. They began a covert surveillance of the home, and Sam-Cali agreed to act as bait.
In the early morning hours of July 31, 1993, an officer, Brian Lewis, was stationed inside the Sam-Cali residence. As planned, a window had been left unlocked to entice the intruder. Robinson took the bait. As he climbed through the window, Officer Lewis confronted him. A shootout erupted, and Robinson, though wounded, managed to escape by crashing through another window.
Hours later, an 18-year-old Harvey Robinson walked into a local hospital seeking treatment for two gunshot wounds. A police officer at the hospital recognized him, and he was promptly arrested. The DNA evidence collected from the scenes of all three murders and the surviving victims provided an irrefutable link. Robinson's DNA was a match to the evidence found on Joan Burghardt, Charlotte Schmoyer, Jessica Jean Fortney, and the two survivors. The reign of terror was finally over.
Trial and Sentence
Harvey Miguel Robinson's trial began in October 1994. The prosecution presented the overwhelming DNA evidence that linked him to all five attacks. On November 8, 1994, a jury found him guilty of three counts of first-degree murder, as well as numerous other charges including rape, attempted homicide, and burglary.
Following the penalty phase of the trial, on November 10, 1994, the jury sentenced Robinson to death for each of the three murders. At just 19 years old, he became one of the youngest inmates ever placed on death row in the United States. He also received a sentence of 40.5 to 81 years in prison for his guilty pleas related to the attacks on the surviving victims.
Over the years, Robinson filed numerous appeals. In 2001, a Lehigh County judge threw out the death sentences for the murders of Joan Burghardt and Charlotte Schmoyer, citing improper sentencing instructions given to the jury during the trial. The death sentence for the murder of Jessica Fortney was upheld by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2004.
Further legal developments reshaped his sentences. Citing the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in *Roper v. Simmons*, which declared the death penalty for juvenile offenders unconstitutional, his death sentence for the Burghardt murder (committed when he was 17) was formally changed. In 2012, Robinson agreed to waive his future appeal rights in the Schmoyer case in exchange for a sentence of life in prison without parole, a deal approved by the victim's family to avoid the pain of further court proceedings. In 2019, his sentence for the Burghardt murder was resentenced to 35 years to life. He remains on death row for the murder of Jessica Jean Fortney, which he committed after his 18th birthday.
Aftermath and Legacy
Harvey Miguel Robinson remains incarcerated at SCI Phoenix in Skippack Township, Pennsylvania. His case left an indelible mark on Allentown, which had never before experienced a serial killer. The randomness and brutality of his crimes shattered the community's sense of security.
The legal battles surrounding his sentences have spanned decades, highlighting the complexities of capital punishment cases, particularly those involving defendants who were juveniles at the time of their crimes. In a notable moment during a 2019 resentencing hearing, a judge urged Robinson to consider donating his brain to science upon his death, calling it "the one gift you can give" to help researchers understand the roots of his violent behavior.
For the families of Joan Burghardt, Charlotte Schmoyer, and Jessica Jean Fortney, the legal proceedings have meant decades of reliving their trauma. The survival and testimony of Denise Sam-Cali and the five-year-old girl stand as a testament to their incredible strength in the face of unimaginable horror, and their courage was instrumental in stopping a young and exceptionally violent serial killer.
