An 11-year-old girl was discovered dead after allegedly being starved to death and weighing only 20kg at her residence, as reported by law enforcement officials.
Shannon Robinson, aged 51, was taken into custody following the finding of her stepdaughter, who was severely underweight and unresponsive on the kitchen floor on February 16. Police revealed that the girl was found in disposable pull-ups while under Robinson’s care. The stepmother claimed the child had been unwell with “flu-like symptoms” for about a week before the tragic incident. An examination indicated that the 11-year-old weighed just 19.5kg (43 pounds) and was 3 feet, 11 inches tall, which was significantly below the expected measurements for her age.
Medical professionals observed that the girl had visible bones, head lice, as well as multiple bruises and wounds on her body, according to WV MetroNews.
Hailing from West Virginia, Robinson resided with the young girl since 2020. She was arrested and charged with the murder of a child under her care.
Authorities alleged that the stepmother punished the child by withholding food, while others in the household consumed regular meals in her presence, leading to her death by starvation. It was also uncovered that Robinson intentionally denied medical attention to the child since 2020.
Investigators mentioned that a witness stated the girl had been ill since 2024 and eventually lost the ability to walk independently.
Robinson purportedly refrained from seeking medical help for the girl out of fear of facing charges for child neglect or abuse.
Reports confirmed that the girl’s father also lived in the household, although it remains undisclosed if he will be implicated in the case.
This tragic incident follows another case where a young girl was allegedly found starved to death with only a single blueberry in her stomach upon her demise, as per autopsy findings.
Jacqueline Torres-Garcia, known as Mimi, was discovered deceased on October 8 in a deserted residence’s basement in New Britain, Connecticut. Her mother, Karla Garcia, aged 29, faces charges of murder and several related offenses.
A medical examiner determined that the girl suffered from severe malnutrition and muscle atrophy at the time of her passing. Weighing merely 12kg, the 11-year-old’s body was located in an advanced state of decomposition.
Garcia has entered a plea of not guilty and is being detained on a $5 million bond. She is set to appear in court on January 30.