Chapter 4: '‘He just looked evil' - Fearfully, she walked the streets

Over a span of years in the early '90s, Robert Sylvester Alston killed at least four women in Greensboro, North Carolina.

With the constant interest in serial killers Alston is seemingly unique in that his crimes have garnered very little attention from anyone out there in the world of true-crime coverage. What we do have, though, is the profile on him by Greensboro News and Record journalist Nancy McLaughlin who, two decades after he had been incarcerated, was granted the very first opportunity to interview Alston.

With our fourth episode in this series, we're following up on last week's conversation with Nancy McLaughlin about Larry Darby Jr., and focusing solely on the events around Nancy's interview with Alston.

If you're new to the show, go back to the first episode to get caught up before you dive in here.

What you're going to hear are readings of articles from the News and Record alternating with excerpts of an interview with Nancy McLaughlin.

You can find links to all the articles from this episode below:

• City in fear: Greensboro's only serial killer 'just looked evil'  (Feb 14, 2016)
• Greensboro rape suspect is arrested (Jan 29, 1994)
• Lab tests may yield clues to other slayings (Apr 18, 1994)
• Man indicted in strangulation (Apr 18, 1994)
• City man admits killing prostitute (Apr 19, 1994)
• Killer gives details of strangulation in eastern Greensboro (Apr 19, 1994)
• Slayings are similar to attack on woman (Apr 28, 1994)
• Investigators link '91 slaying to man in jail (Apr 23, 1996)
• Convicted killer is charged in deaths of 2 more women (Dec 29, 1997)
• Serial killer admits to two more killings (Sep 3, 1998)

'Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles' is a product of Lee Enterprises. It is produced and edited by Chris Lay, with interviews produced and recorded by Nat Cardona.

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