The FBI has refused to share the results of the autopsy of Shanquella Robinson’s death with her family, despite a video showing the young woman being beaten in a hotel room in Mexico.
The 25-year-old from North Carolina rented a villa in the resort town of San Jose del Cabo with a group of friends, known as “Cabo Six”, to celebrate a friend’s birthday. A day after her arrival, however, she was found dead in one of the rooms of their rental property.
Robinson’s death was initially ruled to be caused by alcohol poisoning, but an autopsy later revealed the social media personality had died from a broken neck and other massive trauma to his body.
A gruesome video that has gone viral shows one of Robinson’s friends allegedly beating her shortly before her body was found.
Robinson’s distraught family demands more transparency from authorities and wants to see autopsy results for themselves, The New York Post reported.
The 25-year-old woman from North Carolina, who had gone to a resort in San Jose del Cabo with a group of friends to celebrate a birthday, was found dead on October 29, 2022.
A 25-year-old American woman found dead in Mexico is seen brutally beaten by friends in a hotel room – after claiming she died of alcohol poisoning: Autopsy reveals she had the broken neck
Robinson’s family attorney, Sue-Ann Robinson (no relation to the deceased) told the US Sun that the “family is deeply disappointed” at the lack of action by US authorities in the case.
Robinson’s death certificate listed the cause of death as severe spinal cord injury and atlas dislocation, defined as instability or excessive movement of the upper vertebrae in the neck, CNN affiliate WBTV reported.
In November, less than a month after her death, Mexican authorities were investigating the young woman’s death as a homicide. A warrant has been issued for at least one of the six friends Robinson traveled with.
But, five months later, the FBI decided it would not pursue any charges against any of the friends, citing a lack of evidence in the case.
Family attorney Sue-Ann Robinson, (no relation to the deceased), told the US Sun.
“We all saw what happened on the video, and we demand that the US authorities step in and prioritize the case and allow the extradition process to proceed, allow the Mexican authorities to prosecute the person they they identified as the aggressor in Mexican courts.
In March, a letter was sent to President Biden demanding that the “direct assailant” in the beating video be extradited to face charges in Mexico.
“Because we require a high level of diplomatic intervention, we have sent the correspondence to our country’s most senior diplomats,” Sue-Ann said at the time.
She said the FBI told her they were unable to release the documents [autopsy results] because the case is still open and they are still waiting for the English translation of the documents they received from the Mexican authorities.
Despite the response, Robinson said there were “red flags everywhere”.
“You made a decision in the case, you publicly announced the decision to the family and the public,” she said, in part, “but you say the case is still not closed and that you admit that some of the documents in the investigative file that would likely affect your decision to charge have not been fully translated.
She said the “family is deeply disappointed ‘at the lack of action by US authorities in this matter’, after learning that the results of their loved one’s autopsy would not be shared.
“They’re obviously concerned about the red flags and the lack of transparency in the investigation, but they’re not discouraged,” Robinson said.
Shanquella’s mother Salamondra Robinson (right) and another member of Robinson’s family are devastated over the young woman’s death and want justice for their loved one
Shanquella pictured by the pool while on a Mexican vacation with friends
The family plans to travel to Washington, DC on Friday, which would mark 200 days since his death.
“There should be a level of urgency, a level of priority by US authorities that just doesn’t exist yet,” their attorney said.
Robinson even traveled to Mexico to further the investigation. She said the initial investigation has been completed and an extradition case has been presented to the US government.
“It was a surreal experience in the sense that I have been a lawyer for almost 17 years. I am a former prosecutor, criminal defense lawyer. I have never had to physically travel to another country to investigate on behalf of ‘one family,’ she told the US Sun.
“So it was unreal in that regard, because the toil that this family had to endure trying to grieve a loved one but also seek justice on behalf of the loved one at the same time…it’s a very heavy burden.”
Last month, the FBI told The Sun in a statement that Robinson’s case was a “priority” for officials.
Robinson’s attorney and family are hoping and praying for justice soon for their loved one.
