The U.S. Division of Justice has determined to not deliver federal costs in reference to the dying of Shanquella Robinson, a 25-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina entrepreneur.

On October 28, 2022, Ms. Robinson and 6 of her associates went to a trip villa in San José del Cabo, Mexico. The following day, Ms. Robinson died. On October 30, her six journey mates returned to the U.S. along with her baggage and informed Robinson’s mom that she had died of alcohol poisoning. That a lot is evident.

However little else is. Beneath, we focus on the Robinson dying., in addition to the media studies and contradictory proof surrounding it, and you may resolve for your self when you agree with the U.S. authorities’s determination to not prosecute the case.

What Occurred?

By all studies, Shanquella Robinson was a vibrant, bold younger lady who had began her personal enterprise braiding kids’s hair. She and a few faculty associates determined to make a journey to Cabo San Lucas, and rented a trip villa there. When she final spoke along with her mom on the Friday that she left for the journey, she appeared “fairly joyful.”

The Physician Arrives

The police report of the incident included an in depth interview with the villa’s concierge, who was current on the scene of Robinson’s dying. In line with the report, somebody on the villa known as for a physician on the afternoon of October 29. When the physician arrived on the scene, she discovered Robinson with steady very important indicators, however she was dehydrated and uncommunicative. Her associates informed the physician that she had drunk quite a lot of alcohol.

The physician wished to take Robinson to a hospital, however her associates insisted that she be handled on the villa after discovering out how a lot a hospital would price. The physician thus tried to begin an IV line, however earlier than she might accomplish that, Robinson had a seizure. At that time, her associates known as for an ambulance.

At 4:49 p.m., the physician might now not discover a pulse. She and one in every of Robinson’s associates started CPR. When paramedics arrived, they administered extra rounds of CPR and adrenaline with out success. Their makes an attempt to restart her coronary heart with a defibrillator failed, and she or he was pronounced lifeless at 5:57 p.m.

Her Pals Depart Mexico

In line with the police interview with the villa’s concierge, at round 9:30 pm on the evening of the incident, Robinson’s associates requested the concierge to rearrange for a automobile to take them to town middle in order that they may get one thing to eat. They didn’t come again that evening. The following morning, the concierge bought a name from the maid, asking if the group had given discover that they might be leaving—as a result of there was nobody within the villa. The concierge had not been notified of the group’s departure; the group had solely beforehand requested transportation. The driving force of the automobile later reported that he had dropped them off at an airport lodge. The concierge despatched the group a textual content, to which they didn’t reply till the next morning, informing the villa that that they had already returned to the US.

The Demise Certificates

A duplicate of Shanquella Robinson’s dying certificates reportedly listed the reason for dying as “extreme spinal wire damage and atlas luxation.” The latter, also called “inner decapitation,” is actually a separation of the bottom of the cranium from the spinal column, which normally leads to speedy dying.

Robinson’s dying, nevertheless, was categorised as “unintentional or violent,” and the approximate time between damage and dying was quarter-hour. The post-mortem didn’t point out alcohol poisoning.

The Video

A month after the incident, a video made the rounds on social media, exhibiting somebody throwing Robinson to the bottom after which savagely kicking and hitting her throughout her head and physique. A person close by is heard saying, “‘Quella, are you able to at the very least battle again?” It stays unclear when the trending video was filmed.

Mexico and the U.S. Examine Robinson’s Demise

Again in November of final 12 months, Baja California Sur State Prosecutor, Daniel de la Rosa, informed reporters that Robinson’s dying resulted from “direct aggression,” and that an arrest warrant had been issued for the crime of femicide (the killing of a lady or feminine due to her gender or intercourse). The FBI then opened a federal investigation into the circumstances surrounding Robinson’s dying. Mexican prosecutors mentioned that they had been consulting with federal authorities officers in each international locations about an extradition request.

In early March of 2023, the Capitol held a information convention attended by the household and their attorneys: civil rights lawyer Ben Crump and legal professional Sue-Ann Robinson (no relation to the household). They urged the Biden Administration, the State Division, and the Division of Justice to prioritize bringing Shanquella’s killer(s) to justice.

As soon as Robinson’s physique had been embalmed and transported again to the US, one other post-mortem was carried out by the Mecklenburg County (NC) coroner. In line with U.S. officers, the post-mortem revealed some swelling on the mind, however no spinal wire damage. No particular explanation for dying could possibly be decided. Federal prosecutors in North Carolina and the FBI informed Robinson’s household that after a “detailed and thorough” investigation of the accessible proof, it was declining to press any costs presently.

Concurrent Jurisdiction

Despite the fact that Robinson’s dying occurred in Mexico, the U.S. authorities has the facility to analyze and prosecute a criminal offense between Americans if the homicide concerned federal regulation enforcement companies or “interstate commerce”—the latter of which is a little bit of a misnomer, because it additionally encompasses inter-nation commerce.

Chances are you’ll be questioning what connection Ms. Robinson’s dying might have needed to interstate commerce. Whereas she was final alive in Mexico and died there, her baggage is the hook. Ms. Robinson’s baggage is arguably proof, which her journey mates transported from Mexico to the U.S. the day after her dying.

There’s additionally the matter of cell telephones. Ms. Robinson’s journey mates introduced their telephones with them on their journey, after which again to the U.S. These telephones might include photos, movies, texts, and different messages. All of this can be proof referring to the crime that’s related to interstate commerce.

Will Justice Be Accomplished in Shanquella’s Demise?

Mexican authorities say that Robinson died of a damaged neck, they usually search to prosecute one in every of her journey mates for femicide. Then again, U.S. authorities say they can’t decide how Robinson died. Thus, the U.S. Feds have chosen to not prosecute anybody presently, nor have they mentioned whether or not they’re prepared to extradite whoever Mexico desires to prosecute.

The place’s the justice for Shanquella? It might lie within the Mexican courts—if the U.S. does not stand in the best way.