US federal prosecutors will not pursue charges in the death of a North Carolina woman who died after being beaten in a hotel room while vacationing in Cabo, Mexico, reports said Wednesday.
Department of Justice prosecutors met with the family of Shanquella Robinson and told them that after “careful deliberation,” they determined there was not enough evidence to seek charges in the case.
“As in every case under consideration for federal prosecution, the government must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a federal crime was committed,” federal prosecutors in North Carolina said, according to local reports.
“Based on the results of the autopsy and after a careful deliberation and review of the investigative materials by both U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, federal prosecutors informed Ms. Robinson’s family today that the available evidence does not support a federal prosecution,” they added.
Robinson, 25, was found dead in a hotel room in the Mexico resort city in October last year.
The clothing designer had traveled to Cabo San Lucas for vacation with six friends — and her death was originally thought to be related to alcohol poisoning.
Federal prosecutors will reportedly not pursue charges related to the death of Shanquella Robinson, the North Carolina woman who died while on vacation in Mexico last year. Instagram / @shanaquella_robinson
DOJ prosecutors told the family of Robinson that there isn’t enough evidence to pursue charges. WSOC-TV
Robinson’s death was originally thought to be related to alcohol poisoning. WCNC
An autopsy determined that Robinson died from trauma suffered in the attack.
Video shows Robinson getting beaten by another woman in her hotel room in Cabo.
A death certificate later said Robinson suffered “severe spinal cord injury and atlas luxation,” or damage to a neck vertebra.
Disturbing video footage from inside Robinson’s hotel room later revealed that one of the women she traveled to Mexico with had savagely beaten her inside the room.
A person off camera yelled, “At least fight back,” while the woman trounced Robinson, according to the viral video.
A final autopsy determined Robinson likely died from trauma suffered during the beating about 15 minutes later.
An arrest warrant was issued for an unnamed person in Mexico, but no one was ever busted in the case.
“While it is discouraging for the loved ones of Shanquella that their own Department of Justice will not be pursuing charges against Shanquella’s aggressor, it is our stance that justice is still possible for her death. We hope that there is still a chance at justice in Mexico,” attorneys Ben Crump and Sue-Ann Robinson said Wednesday.
