Shanquella Brenda Robinson was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She loved gymnastics and attended West Charlotte High School before graduating from Winston-Salem State University. At just 25 years old, she was already a successful entrepreneur with two brands to her name: Exquisite Boutique and Exquisite Kids. “She was a growing, sweet-hearted person — loved people, loved her friends, loved to have fun. Just a smart, intelligent person,” recalled Shanquella's father, Bernard Robinson.
Shanquella Robinson (CNN)
Shanquella and a group of friends planned a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for a long weekend to celebrate the birthday of one of the women in the group, Daejhanae Jackson. Many sources have described the group she traveled with as loose acquaintances from university rather than close friends. However, Shanquella did know one member well, a man named Khalil Cooke. The two had been best friends for nearly five years. Shanquella's mother, Salamondra Robinson, remembers them being so close that Khalil would visit often and even go on family vacations with them. There were six people in total in the group: three men and three women.
The group departed on Friday, October 28, and was scheduled to return on Monday, October 31. Upon arrival, they checked into a luxury five-bedroom villa, Villa Linda 32, a property managed by Cabovillas.com. That evening, Shanquella called her mother to let her know she had arrived safely and said she would call again the next day as the group prepared to have dinner cooked by a personal chef. The group opted to stay in that night instead of going out.
The following day, Saturday, October 29, at approximately 2:13 p.m., the villa concierge received a call from the group because one member had been found unconscious on the floor of her room. The concierge immediately contacted a doctor. Within an hour, Dr. Karolina Beatriz Ornelas-Gutiérrez from the American Medical Centre arrived at the villa. Members of the group told her that Shanquella had “drank a lot” of alcohol. Dr. Ornelas-Gutiérrez recalled seeing Shanquella disoriented, unable to communicate, unresponsive, and appearing intoxicated. She recommended hospital admission, but the group insisted that Shanquella be treated at the villa. Around this time, Salamondra received a frantic call from a member of the group, informing her that Shanquella was suffering from alcohol poisoning but that a doctor was on the way.
After Dr. Ornelas-Gutiérrez arrived, Shanquella’s condition worsened rapidly. After unsuccessful attempts to administer an IV drip, she began having a seizure and suffered spontaneous defecation within the hour. At 4:20 p.m., an ambulance was called as she was struggling to breathe and her pulse was dropping. She soon went into cardiac arrest.
Paramedics arrived at 4:49 p.m. and began performing CPR, administering adrenaline, and delivering shocks with an automated external defibrillator. Despite their efforts, Shanquella Robinson was declared dead at 5:57 p.m.
The official police report stated that Shanquella died approximately two hours and 45 minutes after a doctor had been called to the villa. The report noted no internal or external injuries and concluded that the foreign citizen had died of alcohol poisoning.
Salamondra (left), and Shanquella Robinson (The Sun)
Salamondra Robinson grew suspicious when different members of the group gave conflicting stories about what had happened that day. Some claimed a maid or doctor found Shanquella; others gave varying accounts of where she was found — on the floor, the bed, or a chair. Salamondra was also suspicious when told Shanquella had alcohol poisoning before a doctor even arrived. The family's suspicions were confirmed when the autopsy report was released.
No one told the same story, so I never believed them anyway.Salamondra Robinson, mother of Shanquella Robinson
On November 5, an official coroner’s report was released. It revealed that Shanquella’s death occurred 15 minutes after she suffered a severe spinal injury. Her neck was broken, and her spine was severed. The official cause of death was listed as severe spinal cord injury and atlas luxation which is the dislocation of the base of the skull from the first bone of the neck. The report made no mention of cardiac arrest or alcohol poisoning. In a section asking, “Was it accidental or violent death?” the coroner simply wrote, “Yes.”
The situation further unraveled on Friday, November 18, when videos were posted on social media showing the group in Mexico. The first video showed Shanquella teasing her friends for taking too long to get ready. Observers noted a tense energy among the women, who appeared uneasy or irritated around Shanquella.
The second video (graphic content) depicted a naked woman being beaten in a hotel room. Salamondra confirmed the woman was Shanquella, who was viciously attacked by another woman. Shanquella was thrown to the ground, punched, and kicked in the head, falling while still being beaten. At least two others were present: someone filming the assault and a man heard taunting Shanquella, saying, “Quella? Can you at least fight back?” She responded, “No,” clearly unwilling to fight back.
All members of the group have since scrubbed their social media accounts. On November 18, 2023, the FBI officially opened an investigation into Shanquella’s death. However, on April 12, 2024, federal prosecutors announced they did not have enough evidence to press charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated, “The available evidence does not support a federal prosecution.” It was unclear how this decision would affect the investigation by Mexican authorities.
On November 23, 2023, the Attorney General of Baja California issued an arrest warrant for femicide against the direct aggressor shown in the video of Shanquella’s beating. The video makes clear that Shanquella did not die from alcohol poisoning but as a result of the violent altercation. Although an arrest warrant has been issued, no arrest has been made to date.
It’s like a nightmare. I can’t even sleep. I am just frustrated. My heart is just aching as a father. A praying man...I just want some truth because this doesn’t add up right.Bernard Robinson, father of Shanquella Robinson (WSOCTV)
UPDATE - April 19, 2024
More than a year after her death, Shanquella’s family is moving forward with pressing charges against the six other members of the group she traveled with. The family’s lawyer, Sue-Ann Robinson, has accused the FBI and U.S. State Department of negligence in their investigation.
The FBI, saying that they’ve done a ‘thorough, diligent and complete investigation’ announcing that the case is closed, and still saying that they’re waiting for documents to be translated, is negligent.Sue-Ann Robinson (The Robinson family's lawyer) to the Charlotte Observer
The family is currently preparing to file complaints in federal court. Although Mexican authorities have issued an arrest warrant for one member of the group, extradition requires authorization from the U.S. State Department.
Source:
The Shanquella Robinson Story One Year Later: What's Happened Since Her Death?
