Dating apps have revolutionized how people connect in the modern age, offering a convenient platform for individuals to find romance from the comfort of their own homes. However, as with any tool, there is a dark side to this convenience. Fox News Digital has compiled a chilling list of six cases where dating app users unknowingly walked into the clutches of danger while seeking love. These stories blur the line between love and terror, reminding us that not everyone behind a profile has good intentions. Here are six harrowing tales of how dating app encounters turned deadly.
A Fatal Tinder Date
In 2018, Grace Millane, a British backpacker celebrating her 21st birthday in New Zealand, matched with Jesse Shane Kempson on Tinder. Their encounter turned tragic when Kempson brutally murdered her in a hotel room in Auckland. Millane was just one day shy of her 22nd birthday. During Kempson’s trial, prosecutors revealed that he strangled Millane during consensual sex, took explicit photos of her body, and stuffed her remains into a suitcase. Her body was later discovered in the Waitakere Ranges, with autopsy results showing injuries consistent with restraint. Kempson was sentenced to life in prison for the heinous crime. Tinder did not comment on the case at the time of reporting. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that can lurk behind seemingly innocent dating app connections.
A Catfish Conspiracy
Curtis Engeland, a 74-year-old man from Mercer Island, Washington, fell victim to a deadly catfish scheme on the LGBTQ+ dating app Scruff. Engeland’s body was found on March 7, 2024, after he was reported missing earlier that month. Authorities discovered that Engeland had suffered blunt force trauma and a stab wound to the neck. Further investigation revealed that he had been targeted by online criminals who had met him through a dating website. Before his death, Engeland was allegedly robbed, kidnapped, and poisoned with fentanyl. Philip J. Brewer, 32, and Christina Hardy, 47, are now facing charges including murder, kidnapping, and identity theft in connection with Engeland’s death. Scruff, like Tinder, did not provide a comment on the case. This tragedy highlights the risks of online deception and the lengths to which criminals will go to exploit unsuspecting victims.
A Transgender Teenager’s Tragic Fate
In Pennsylvania, 14-year-old Pauly Likens, a transgender teenager, was lured to her death by 29-year-old Deshawn Watkins after meeting him on Grindr, another LGBTQ+ dating app. Likens was at a friend’s house when she decided to meet Watkins, who then took her into the woods. Police discovered Pauly’s dismembered body, with sharp force trauma to the head identified as her cause of death. Watkins was subsequently charged with her murder. The case has shaken the transgender community, raising questions about safety and the dangers of online interactions. Grindr, like the other apps involved in these cases, did not respond to requests for comment. This heartbreaking story underscores the vulnerabilities faced by marginalized groups in the digital dating world.
A Shopping Cart Killer
Anthony Robinson, a Virginia man now known as the “shopping cart killer,” used social media dating apps to lure at least two women to their deaths in 2021. Robinson, who was working at a chicken processing plant and staying in a motel, killed his victims in his room before using a shopping cart to dispose of their bodies in a wooded area. Beth Redmon and Tonia Smith were the two women whose bodies were found, with Robinson charged in connection with their murders. Investigators have also linked him to two additional deaths in Fairfax County and one in Washington, D.C., though he has not yet faced trial for those. Robinson was convicted and now faces life in prison. Trial evidence included footage of Robinson wheeling Redmon’s body out of the motel in a sheet-wrapped bundle. The “shopping cart killer” case is a chilling example of how murderers can hide in plain sight, even in the digital age.
A Transgender Killer’s Double Crimes
Alex Ray Scott, a transgender woman who began transitioning while in jail, was sentenced to life in prison for two brutal murders. In 2020, Scott used a dating app to meet Kenneth Savinski, an antiques dealer in New York City, who was stabbed to death with a decorative plate and kitchen knife in his Upper East Side apartment. Scott also admitted to the 2019 murder of Robin Skocdopole in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, whose severed head was later found by police after Scott provided them with the location. Scott received a sentence of 22 years to life for Savinski’s murder, in addition to 45 years for Skocdopole’s death. The case has raised questions about the justice system’s handling of transgender offenders and the nature of their crimes. Scott’s “baby-faced” appearance belies the brutality of her actions, making her a particularly unsettling figure in true crime history.
A Serial Killer’s Dating App Prey
Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, a New Jersey man, was sentenced to 160 years in prison for using dating apps to lure three women to their deaths in 2016. Wheeler-Weaver targeted Joanee Brown, Sarah Butler, and Robin West, using the apps to arrange meetings for sex before strangling them and dumping their bodies across northern New Jersey. Tiffany Taylor, a fourth woman, survived an attack and provided critical information to police that helped crack the case. Wheeler-Weaver’s trial revealed a calculated pattern of violence, with each attack occurring weeks apart, giving him time to plan his next strike. The case was notable for the collaboration between Butler’s college friends, who used social media to set a trap for Wheeler-Weaver. Police were waiting when he arrived at the proposed meeting spot. This case highlights both the dangers of dating apps and the power of community and technology in bringing perpetrators to justice.
These six cases are a grim reminder of the potential dangers of using dating apps. While apps like Tinder, Scruff, Grindr, and others offer opportunities for love and connection, they also create spaces where predators can hide and strike. As these stories show, the line between love and terror can be perilously thin. While most dating app encounters are harmless, these chilling examples remind us to approach online relationships with caution and to prioritize personal safety. The rise of dating app-related crimes has also sparked conversations about accountability and responsibility, both from the platforms themselves and from users. As we continue to navigate the digital dating landscape, these stories serve as a sobering warning to stay vigilant and aware of the risks.
