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Recently, a claim surfaced online that a man allegedly named Robert Thibodeau had been on a killing spree across the USA in the first few days of December. While the exact source of the rumor remains unknown, one of the first users to share it was Morning Starr on the Facebook page “Sell your stuff! Salem, Oregon. (Buy-Sell-Trade) on December 3.
“Warning: The public around #Salem is being warned to be alert & vigilant as there is a serial killer on the run. This man goes around knocking on peoples' doors claiming to be homeless, and seeking help, & he attacks you after gaining your trust. He's ruthless and very dangerous,” the post was captioned.
“On Thursday, he attacked a 37-year-old single mom with a knife and left her struggling for her life. Known as Robert Thibodeau aged 52 years, also stole a vehicle from an 83-year-old grandmother under the guise of helping her offload groceries from her car. If you see him, please call the police and be careful. Warn others.
The post, which featured two side-by-side mugshots of the same man, Caucasian, middle-aged, bald-headed, with a grey and light brown beard, earned severe traction. Later, Facebook user Rosemary Chapell also shared a similar post with a few changes.
However, the now-viral claim is fake. No official crime reports of such a serial killer terrorizing the country have been revealed. Meanwhile, Snopes debunked it by sharing how the rumor was part of a bait-and-switch scam.
The website also traced back the image to an August 2018 article published by the local Louisiana publication, The Advocate. In its article, the man was named James A. Vining, and he was arrested on other charges, such as multiple drug counts and video voyeurism from Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana.
Exploring further the ongoing Facebook hoax surrounding alleged serial killer Robert Thibodeau
Besides Morning Starr’s post, several other Facebook users also used the copy-and-paste format to make similar fabricated posts about an alleged serial killer named Robert Thibodeau. The only difference between them was the names of the localities, towns, cities, and states – all across the United States, as well as a few other details.
For instance, LaSalle County in Illinois, Lawrence County in Alabama, Las Cruces in New Mexico, Tipton County in Tennessee, Weslaco in Texas, Augusta in Georgia, and Parkersburg in West Virginia were some places named in the hoax. However, no verifiable media reports could be found supporting the claims.
Certain law enforcement also issued debunking statements regarding the same. For instance, Tipton County Sheriff Shannon Beasly wrote on the platform, "This is a scam and NOT TRUE," and assured residents they would be warned if such a man was out loose.
Likewise, the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office issued an advisory about a “scam alert” on its Facebook account.
“Attention residents of LaSalle County: We have recently been made aware of a post circulating on social media claiming that a serial killer named Robert Thibodeau is in our area. This information is FALSE and is part of an ongoing hoax,” the post read.
“Please be assured that there is no credible threat to our community. Similar posts have appeared in various regions and are often designed to incite panic and fear. We urge everyone to verify information through official channels before sharing."
Meanwhile, Snopes’ investigation into the hoax indicated it was part of a bait-and-switch scam where scammers often created posts in local community groups on Facebook for virality, sensationalism, and inciting unnecessary fear among people.
After the concerned posts became viral, such as in the case of the Robert Thibodeau serial killer hoax, the scammers edited their original warning posts with materials that often allowed them to make money. For example, in the case of Morning Starr’s post, the caption and the visuals were changed. The edited caption read:
“Big thanks to the wonderful group member who shared info about the benefits assistance program! I was so surprised and grateful to receive this support. If you or someone you know could use a little help this festive season, definitely check out.”
Meanwhile, the alleged mugshot of fake Robert Thibodeau changed into a screenshot of a financial transaction titled “BENEFITS AID” worth $470. Another fabricated post about the alleged serial killer later redirected to an offer for “free dental care services” with multiple links.
However, such links also didn’t show details of the said dental services but had irrelevant information about health insurance in general.
A man named Robert Thibodeau was arrested in New York in early 2024
Notably, the name Robert Thibodeau is not entirely made up. According to an old article on NBC 5 dated March 22, 2024, a 52-year-old man with the same name was indeed arrested and charged with multiple felonies related to criminal weapon and ammunition possession charges.
This Robert Thibodeau was in no way related to serial killing. He was identified as a resident of North Country in Plattsburg, New York, and a former employee of CVPH, which was part of the UVM Health Network.
The NBC 5 article reported that the man faced 11 charges and was indicted by a grand jury in Clinton County Court after he was taken into custody for having a loaded gun in his truck in February.
Reportedly, Thibodeau’s brother tipped off law enforcement after he received a concerning call from him about carrying a loaded gun and allegedly expressing his intention to harm people at his workplace. Later, upon searching his home, many other weapons were seemingly discovered.
While the bail amount was initially disputed, the judge later set it at $100,000 in cash or a $200,000 bond. Robert Thibodeau pleaded not guilty to all charges and was detained at the Clinton County Jail, awaiting his next court hearing in May. His image was never made public.
His lawyer, Peter Dumas, said his client was a local family man who was “calm” and “cooperative.” In contrast, Jeffrey Kehm, an Assistant District Attorney of Clinton County, claimed the defendant refused to follow legal orders during his arrest.
