Shanquella Robinson Case: Federal Prosecutors Say Evidence ‘Does Not Support’ Charges

Findings from a federal investigation into the death of Shanquella Robinson were revealed on Wednesday. Per the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in both the Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina, currently available evidence in the case “does not support” prosecution at the federal level.

“As in every case under consideration for federal prosecution, the government must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a federal crime was committed,” a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of North Carolina reads. “Based on the results of the autopsy and after a careful deliberation and review of the investigative materials by both U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, federal prosecutors informed Ms. Robinson’s family today that the available evidence does not support a federal prosecution.”

Per federal officials, a meeting with Robinson’s family was held on Wednesday to discuss these findings. And despite Wednesday’s announcement, federal officials were careful to note that the government “is prepared to review and examine new information” in the investigation should it be made available in the future.

In March, Robinson’s family called for President Joe Biden to intervene in the case.

“It has been 126 days since [Robinson] died,” attorney Ben Crump said at the time. “That’s 18 weeks. Video footage of her being beaten literally to death was released on November 16, 2022. 108 days ago, 15 weeks, and three days. And still, with all this visual evidence, nobody has been arrested.”

Robinson died while on vacation in Mexico. While friends were first reported to have claimed she died as a result of alcohol poisoning, an autopsy later showed she had died from “severe spinal cord injury and atlas luxation.”

In November, per the Associated Press, prosecutors in Mexico were confirmed to have filed charges against a suspect in the case. Prosecutors were also said to be seeking extradition of the suspect.