Harvey Robinson

From a young age, Harvey exhibited troubling behavior. At just 9 years old, he had his first brush with the law. Teachers noted his violent outbursts and his inability to distinguish right from wrong. As he grew older, his peers, both children and adults, began to fear him. Harvey’s disregard for authority and his increasingly erratic behavior made him a ticking time bomb.

By the age of 17, Harvey became one of Pennsylvania’s most notorious teenage serial killers. In 1993, over the course of just a year, he attacked five women, killing three of them.

The Victims of Harvey Robinson
Joan Burghart, a 29-year-old nurse’s aide, was Harvey’s first known victim. One night, Harvey spotted Joan through her apartment window as she undressed for bed. Days later, neighbors, irritated by loud music coming from her apartment, called the police. When officers arrived, they discovered that Joan had been brutally assaulted and murdered. One of her bedroom windows had a missing screen, indicating how Harvey entered the home. At the time of her murder, Harvey was in police custody for an unrelated crime but was never suspected of her murder. He was released without being linked to her death.

The next victim was Charlotte Schmoyer, a 15-year-old girl who delivered newspapers in Allentown. On the morning of June 9, 1993, Charlotte’s customers became concerned when they didn’t receive their papers. One resident discovered her abandoned cart and bike in their yard. Police quickly found more signs of a struggle, including Charlotte’s radio headset and bloody handprints. A search party located Charlotte’s body in a wooded area near Mosser Elementary School. She had been savagely assaulted, stabbed 22 times, and her throat was slit—a clear case of overkill.

Just a month later, on July 14, 1993, Harvey struck again. His victim, Jessica Fortney, was a 47-year-old grandmother. Like the others, Jessica was brutally assaulted and killed, but this time, Harvey strangled her to death. Unlike many serial killers who target a specific type of victim, Harvey’s victims ranged in age from children to adults, and they did not share any clear similarities.

Two of Harvey’s victims survived his horrific attacks. One of them was a 5-year-old girl who was assaulted and choked. Harvey left her for dead, but she miraculously survived the attack. His final victim, Denise Sam-Cali, also survived and would play a key role in his capture. After escaping his assault, Denise courageously agreed to work with police as bait to lure Harvey in. A few nights later, Harvey returned to Denise’s home, where a police officer was waiting for him. Though he was shot during the encounter, Harvey managed to flee by breaking a window. He was later arrested at a nearby hospital while seeking treatment for his gunshot wound.

Harvey Robinson’s Arrest and Trials
DNA evidence connected Harvey to all three murder scenes, sealing his fate. Despite being a juvenile at the time of the crimes, the state showed no leniency due to the severity and frequency of his offenses. Harvey was sentenced to three death sentences plus 100 years in prison for the attempted murders of Denise Sam-Cali and the 5-year-old girl.

In 2012, however, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that sentencing juveniles to the death penalty was unconstitutional. This decision sparked numerous appeals from Harvey, and as a result, two of his three death sentences were overturned.

Even before the Supreme Court ruling, in 2005, a court vacated Harvey’s death sentence for Joan Burghart’s murder because he was only 17 at the time. His sentence was reduced to life in prison without parole. Harvey continued to appeal, arguing ineffective counsel and claiming brain damage, which he asserted made him ineligible for the death penalty. He also disagreed with a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder given during his trial, claiming it damaged his case. Despite these claims, the courts repeatedly denied his appeals, maintaining that the information would not have influenced the jury’s decision.

In a significant development in 2012, Harvey struck a deal to avoid the death penalty in Charlotte Schmoyer’s case. He waived his right to future appeals, and in exchange, his sentence was commuted to life in prison. Charlotte’s family approved the deal, as they wanted to avoid the ongoing pain of revisiting the case through appeals. This agreement provided them with some degree of closure, ensuring that Harvey would never be eligible for parole.

At this time, Harvey remains on death row for the murder of Jessica Fortney, though he continues to appeal this sentence as well.

A Shift in Tone: Winebeast Cellars
After exploring such a dark chapter of Allentown’s history, a visit to Winebeast Cellars offers a chance to decompress and enjoy something lighter. With locations in Andreas and Easton, PA, Winebeast Cellars provides a delightful selection of wines made from locally grown grapes. Whether you prefer a smooth red or a refreshing white, Winebeast Cellars has something to satisfy your palate. Both locations are just a short drive from Allentown, making them an ideal destination for a relaxing day out.