In a story that sounds too disturbing to be real, Lifetime’s new movie KIDNAPPED BY A KILLER: THE HEATHER ROBINSON STORY has brought a haunting cold case back into the spotlight. The movie dives into the real-life horror surrounding Heather Robinson, a woman whose identity was stolen as an infant, and whose mother, Lisa Stasi, vanished without a trace in 1985. What starts as a tale of adoption unravels into a dark mystery involving serial murder, stolen identities, and the unthinkable betrayal of family.
Jana Kramer stars in the film as an investigator trying to piece together the bizarre truth. Like many viewers, she was stunned by the facts behind the script. “This cannot be real, right?” she recalled saying. But sadly, it is very real — and it happened to Heather Robinson.
WHO WAS TIFFANY STASI?
Born Tiffany Stasi on September 3, 1984, at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri, Heather had no idea of her true origins for the first fifteen years of her life. Her mother, Lisa Stasi, was only 19 years old when she gave birth. Just months later, after a troubled marriage with Carl Stasi and being alone with a baby, Lisa crossed paths with John Edward Robinson — a man who would later become known as one of the most manipulative and deadly serial killers in the Midwest.
In January 1985, Lisa vanished without a trace. Her infant daughter Tiffany, only four months old, was secretly handed over by John Robinson to his own brother, Don Robinson, and Don’s wife Frieda. The couple adopted her and raised her under the name Heather Robinson, completely unaware of how she came into their lives.
THE DAY THE TRUTH SURFACED
Everything changed in 2000. Law enforcement uncovered multiple bodies in barrels on John Robinson’s property and in storage units. As the horrific crimes unfolded in the news, 15-year-old Heather overheard her adoptive mother panicking. That’s when she learned the unimaginable truth — she had been living under a false identity, and her real mother was presumed to be one of Robinson’s victims.
The name Tiffany Stasi reappeared — it belonged to the missing baby in the 1985 case. Heather was that baby. The news was devastating. She had grown up unaware that her very existence was tied to one of the most infamous serial murder cases in American history.
In a haunting moment from her past, Heather recalled a time when John Robinson tried to lure her away by promising to send her a plane ticket. Looking back, she’s grateful she didn’t go — because she now believes she could have been one of his many victims.
RECLAIMING HER LIFE
Despite the trauma, Heather Robinson didn’t let the discovery of her origins destroy her. Instead, she began a long, emotional journey to reconnect with the past — especially with her biological mother, Lisa. Heather worked hard to learn more about the young woman who had fought to keep her baby, only to fall into the hands of a killer.
Over the years, she built a connection with her maternal grandmother, Pat Sylvester. The two bonded deeply until Pat’s passing in 2018. Heather also made the decision at age 18 to remain legally adopted by Don and Frieda Robinson, who had raised her with love — despite the dark secret behind her arrival.
NEVER GIVING UP
Heather has publicly stated that she believes she was in the room when Lisa was murdered. Though she was too young to remember it, the emotional scars run deep. “If I was a bit older, I could have saved her,” she said in an interview.
To cope with the trauma and advocate for others affected by violent crimes, Heather revealed plans in 2019 to launch The Lisa Stasi Effect — an organization to support victims suffering from PTSD. She also spoke of starting a podcast to share her story and provide a platform for healing, even interviewing her adoptive father for the show. Unfortunately, both the nonprofit and podcast have yet to be fully realized.
WHERE IS HEATHER ROBINSON NOW?
Today, Heather Robinson — once known to the world as Tiffany Stasi — is living a quieter life filled with love and healing. She is married to Roberto Ramos and is a mother to two sons. She often speaks about how her family gives her the strength to keep moving forward. “They are my safe space,” she shared. Her husband and children have helped her remain grounded through years of struggle, confusion, and pain.
Heather’s story isn’t just about surviving a crime — it’s about rediscovering identity, confronting trauma, and refusing to be defined by a killer’s choice. Though her mother’s remains have never been found, Heather remains determined. “I will never stop trying to find her,” she said. “If I want something, I will get it. I will never let go.”
In sharing her journey, Heather Robinson gives voice to countless victims of violent crime who are still seeking closure. Her story, as depicted in Lifetime’s Kidnapped by a Killer, serves as a painful reminder of how evil can tear lives apart — and how resilience can bring them back together.
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Lisa Stasi Murder: Where Is John Robinson?
