The unsolved case of Shanquella Robinson’s mysterious death may remain unresolved, as federal prosecutors announced on Wednesday that no criminal charges will be filed. Robinson and up to six friends traveled to Cabo on October 28, and the next day, a video allegedly showed her being attacked by another young woman. At least two people recorded the incident, with one video being posted on social media. During the altercation, a man’s voice urged Robinson to fight back.
Despite her friends attributing her death to alcohol poisoning, an autopsy by Mexican authorities revealed no alcohol in her system. A Mexican police report alleges that a doctor from a local hospital was present with Robinson and others at the villa for nearly three hours before she was pronounced dead on October 29.
U.S. Attorney Dena King and the FBI informed Robinson’s family that there was insufficient evidence to charge anyone with a crime after carefully reviewing the investigative materials and autopsy results. The Robinson family plans to hold a press conference today.
Last month, attorneys Ben Crump and Sue-Ann Robinson held a press conference requesting diplomatic intervention from President Joe Biden’s administration and the U.S. State Department to arrest and charge those responsible for Robinson’s death. They were joined by Robinson’s family, activist Tamika Mallory, and Akosua Ali, the president of the NAACP’s D.C. branch, among others. They called for diplomatic intervention to assist Mexico in holding the responsible parties accountable.
Sue-Ann Robinson, who has been working with the family in North Carolina, said her efforts were met with bureaucratic red tape from Mexico. She managed to obtain information from the Mexican attorney general, who had completed their investigation and prepared an extradition packet. The packet was sent to U.S. authorities, and they are now awaiting further action from the U.S. government.
Shanquella Robinson was in her villa at the upscale Fundadores Beach Club in Cabo, Mexico, with several friends when she died on October 29. Her travel companions initially claimed she had died of alcohol poisoning, but a death certificate later revealed her cause of death was a severe spinal cord injury and atlas luxation. Around the same time, a video of Shanquella being brutally attacked by a “friend” also emerged. At least two people filmed the incident, and one male voice can be heard urging “Quella” to “fight back.”
A police report obtained by The Charlotte Observer states that a doctor from a local hospital was with Shanquella and other house members for nearly three hours before she was pronounced dead. Her death has since been ruled as femicide.
