An 11-year-old girl was tragically discovered starved to death, weighing only 20kg, at her residence, as reported by the police.
Shannon Robinson, aged 51, was taken into custody after law enforcement officers found her emaciated stepdaughter unconscious on the kitchen floor on February 16. Allegedly, the girl was wearing disposable pull-ups while under her stepmother’s care. Robinson claimed the child had been unwell with flu-like symptoms for about a week before the distressing incident. An examination revealed that the 11-year-old weighed just 19.5kg (43 pounds) and was significantly below the expected weight for her age.
Medical experts observed that the girl had visible bones, head lice, and multiple bruises and wounds on her body, as per WV MetroNews.
Robinson, residing in West Virginia, had been living with the young girl since 2020. She was arrested and charged with the murder of a child by a parent, guardian, or custodian.
Authorities alleged that the stepmother withheld food from the child as a form of punishment, while other household members enjoyed regular meals in front of her, resulting in her death by starvation. Investigations revealed that Robinson intentionally denied the child medical attention since 2020.
A witness stated that the girl had been sick since 2024 and eventually lost the ability to walk unaided.
It was reported that Robinson refrained from seeking medical help for the girl out of fear of being accused of child neglect or abuse.
The girl’s father was also living in the residence, although it is unclear if he will face any charges in connection to this tragic incident.
This heartbreaking event follows another case where a girl, Jacqueline Torres-Garcia, known as Mimi, was found deceased with only a single blueberry in her stomach during an autopsy. Her mother, Karla Garcia, aged 29, was charged with murder and other related offenses after Mimi was discovered dead on October 8 in a vacant house in New Britain, Connecticut.
A medical examiner determined that the girl suffered from severe malnutrition and muscle atrophy at the time of her passing. She weighed a mere 12kg and was found in an advanced state of decomposition.
Garcia has pleaded not guilty and is being held on a $5 million bond, with a court appearance scheduled for January 30.