CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It's been one year since 25-year-old Shanquella Robinson traveled to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with a group of six people for vacation in late October 2022 and died unexpectedly on Oct. 29.
Since her tragic death, Robinson's family and people across the country have demanded that those responsible be held accountable.
Meanwhile, loved ones continue to grieve her loss.
"There are good days and bad days, they're processing grief like any other family would after a change in their family dynamic,” said Attorney Sue Ann Robinson, representing the family.
What was supposed to be a vacation with friends turned into tragedy. Attorney Sue Ann Robinson said the travel mates initially told Shanquella’s family, she died of alcohol poisoning.
Yet a video showing Shanquella viciously beaten by one of her friends during the trip raised more questions.
"They had a video that went viral, the whole world saw the video and there's still been no arrest since Oct 29, what kind of system is this?" said Shanquella’s mother, Sallamondra Robinson.
“Covering up the fact that she was beaten is a consciousness of guilt,” said Sue Ann Robinson.
Shanquella Robinson's death certificate says she died 15 minutes after suffering a severe spinal cord injury and a broken neck.
In November 2022, following her death, and the video surfacing the Baja California Sur Attorney General's Office opened an investigation announcing it as a femicide – the way the Mexican authorities describe the murder of a woman. Mexican authorities issued an arrest warrant and extradition proceeding against one American citizen identified as the aggressor in the video.
Shanquella Robinson's father, Bernard Robinson, urged Mexican authorities to charge all six people whom she traveled to Mexico with, saying they were responsible for her death.
Back in the States, the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice also opened an investigation. However, a medical examination done in November 2022 in Mecklenburg County in Shanquella’s death came back inconclusive.
In April 2023, Robinson's family learned from the Department of Justice that the case wouldn't seek federal prosecution.
"It takes a little bit of chipping every single day," Sue Ann Robinson, the family's attorney, said.
This leads us to today: Robinson said they are working through various channels and are pushing for the State Department to honor the documents that have been sent from the Mexican authorities.
"It's a very political process, it can take time," Attorney Robinson said. "It's capturing their attention long enough for them to focus on this issue, to get it to the end of the process, which for the family is for the people responsible for the death of Shanquella Robinson, to be extradited to Mexico."
Although the legal team said it would take time, Attorney Robinson said the case could have been further along if it had been taken seriously by U.S. officials from the very beginning.
“The way that the case is not being prioritized the way that the family has had to carve their own path to justice in this case, from the very beginning... has been a huge red flag,” said attorney Robinson.
Right now, there is only one person Mexican authorities are looking to extradite, and there have been no arrests made in connection.
Attorney Robinson said Mexican authorities tell them this case remains a priority
“They're using their diplomatic channels to push for extradition because in their mind, essentially a dangerous killer is on the loose in the United States,” said attorney Robinson.
The FBI Charlotte division said the case remains open and in a statement says quote “As previously shared in April 2023, the available evidence does not support a federal prosecution. As in any case, we are prepared to review and examine new information related to the investigation should it become available.”
The U.S. Department of Justice sent a similar message and had no further comments on the case.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Criminology Associate Professor Dr. Charisse T.M. Coston said it does not mean an extradition is out of the question but the federal prosecutors would need to support it.
“It's a very serious action, because what you're doing is you're giving up a U.S. citizen, to another country, based upon what they've said, has occurred,” said Dr. Coston. “Now, one thing that's probably throwing a wrench in this whole thing is that the United States did an autopsy….. That came back to be undetermined. However, that can also have something to do with the length of time between the two medical examinations, the one in Mexico and then the one done in the U.S.”
Attorney Robinson said a year later the fight for justice continues.
“My message to the travel mates is that, you know, the arc of the universe is long, but it always bends towards justice,” said Attorney Robinson.