Tyler Robinson, 22, who is accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has put a lot of pressure on his family.
People in Utah used to know Matt and Amber Robinson for their work, family life, and vacation photos where they were all smiling. Now, they are at the center of one of the most shocking political crimes in a long time.
A Father’s Choice That Can’t Be Made
Matt Robinson, Tyler’s father, runs a family construction business.
Tyler Robinson, 22, is accused of killing Charlie Kirk.
Matt Robinson called the police after Tyler supposedly told his father about it. At first, Tyler said he would rather kill himself than give up, but a youth minister who worked with the U.S. Marshals Service convinced him to cooperate. He was arrested late Thursday night in southern Utah.
Officials said that decision to turn in his own child was a key moment in ending the manhunt. Governor Spencer Cox praised the family for working together, saying, “We got him” at the start of Friday’s press conference.
Father and son together, now linked to a well-known case.
A Mother Who Was There for Others
Amber Robinson, Tyler’s mother, works in the care industry. She works for Intermountain Support Coordination Services, a state contractor that helps people with disabilities get the care they need. People who knew her said that her social media was full of pictures of family vacations, happy kids, and important events. One post showed her proudly celebrating her “genius son” getting a scholarship to Utah State University in 2021.
Amber Robinson and her son Tyler.
Amber’s Facebook page also had pictures of Tyler as a child, like ones of him posing with guns, like an M2 Browning .50 caliber machine gun and a gun kit he got for Christmas. One post from 2017 showed him dressed up as Donald Trump for Halloween.
Amber Robinson said her son was a “genius” when he got into college.
Politics Getting In
Later, Tyler’s family told the police that he had become “more political in recent years.” At family dinners, they remembered him talking about Charlie Kirk’s upcoming visit to Utah Valley University and why he didn’t like the young conservative star.
Governor Spencer Cox said that Robinson’s family told the police that he had become “more political in recent years” and that he didn’t like Charlie Kirk, calling him “full of hate.” Officials, on the other hand, stressed that a formal motive has not been confirmed.
A Safe Place to Live, Now a Crime Scene
The Robinsons live in a $600,000, six-bedroom house in Washington, Utah, which is about 260 miles south of Orem, where Kirk was killed. Both parents are registered Republicans, according to online records. That fact made it even more shocking that their son was accused of doing something to one of the most well-known voices in the conservative movement.
The Robinsons caught in happy family times
A Family in the Dark
Court documents say that Robinson is now facing serious charges. They include aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm that causes serious bodily harm, and obstruction of justice. If he is found guilty, the authorities say he will get the death penalty.
The Robinsons have a heavy burden to bear: they know that their son is accused of killing a husband and father of two in broad daylight.
The family hasn’t said anything publicly, but what they’ve done says a lot. Matt and Amber Robinson have become unwilling participants in a story that has captivated the whole country by helping to bring their son into custody. It started with the murder of a dedicated activist, and now it reaches all the way into a Utah family’s living room.