A West Virginia stepmother has been charged with murder after her 11-year-old stepdaughter died while severely underweight and malnourished. Shannon Robinson, 51, of Grafton, was arrested and charged with murder of a child by a parent or guardian, according to local reports.
First responders were called to Robinson's home on February 16, 2025, where they found the girl unresponsive on the kitchen floor. She was wearing disposable diapers and appeared extremely small for her age, severely underweight and malnourished, deputies said. The girl was taken to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
An investigation revealed that the girl had been denied food, nutrition and medical care for years. Food deprivation was used as a punishment, with witnesses stating that if the girl resisted Robinson, she would be denied food or given only minimal nourishment while others ate full meals in her presence. The girl had not received any medical care since 2020.
A medical examiner found the girl weighed approximately 43 pounds at the time of her death, with measurements grossly inconsistent for her age. She also had head lice, yellowish skin, visible protruding bones, and multiple bruises and lacerations. Court documents showed she had been sick since summer 2024 and eventually could not walk.
Witnesses said Robinson feared taking the girl to a doctor in case she was reported for abuse or neglect. The girl's biological father was also in the home and permitted the conditions, but has not been charged. Robinson is being held without bail at Tygart Valley Regional Jail.
