An 11-year-old girl was discovered deceased in her home, weighing only 20kg, in what authorities are calling a case of severe neglect. Shannon Robinson, 51, was taken into custody after law enforcement officers found her stepdaughter unresponsive and severely underweight on the kitchen floor on February 16. Police revealed that the child was in disposable pull-ups while under Robinson’s care, who claimed the girl had been unwell with flu-like symptoms for about a week before the tragic incident. Medical examination revealed that the girl, who was just 3 feet, 11 inches tall, weighed a mere 19.5kg (43 pounds), a weight significantly below what is expected for her age.
The medical examiner reported that the girl exhibited prominent bones, head lice, as well as numerous bruises and wounds on her body. Robinson, residing in West Virginia, had been living with the girl since 2020 and is now facing charges for the alleged murder of a child under her care. Authorities stated that the stepmother deliberately withheld food from the child as a form of punishment, depriving her of meals while others in the household ate freely, ultimately leading to her tragic demise. It was also discovered that Robinson intentionally denied the child medical attention since 2020.
According to investigators, a witness stated that the young girl had been sick since 2024 and eventually lost the ability to walk independently. Allegedly, Robinson refrained from seeking medical help for the girl out of fear of legal repercussions for child neglect or abuse. While the girl’s father resided in the same household, it is unclear if he will also face charges related to the case.
This heartbreaking incident follows another tragic case where an 11-year-old girl, Jacqueline Torres-Garcia, known as Mimi, was found deceased with severe malnutrition in New Britain, Connecticut. Her mother, Karla Garcia, 29, has been charged with murder and additional offenses. Garcia, who pleaded not guilty, is currently in custody on a $5 million bond and is scheduled to appear in court on January 30. An autopsy revealed that the girl had only a single blueberry in her stomach at the time of death, indicating extreme starvation and neglect.