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Mexican authorities last month requested that the American government extradite one of its citizens to face charges in the mysterious death of Shanquella Robinson in Cabo. Her family has sought justice from the onset of her death, however, little details have emerged since the case became public knowledge in late October.
Robinson’s mother stated everyone in Cabo gave conflicting details regarding each of their roles in what occurred. Nine days after laying her body to rest, the family continues to seek closure. Her father, Bernard, reiterated, “I want the truth.”
Experts say the US may have no choice but to comply with Mexico, and that while the extradition of an American citizen from the United States is a rare occurrence, it is not unheard of.
MSN reports if that step is taken in the case of Robinson, it turns from a mere criminal one into a diplomatic one involving multiple branches of the US government, federal court proceedings, and questions about the American suspect’s rights.
JUSTICE FOR SHANQUELLA ROBINSON pic.twitter.com/lfp1u9TSjB
— Major Harris (@MajorHarris3) December 18, 2022
“This practice of course raises a question of whether we as citizens have the right not to be seized and forcibly removed from the US in order to be put on trial and possibly jailed on criminal charges in another country,” John Parry, a law professor at Lewis and Clark Law School who has studied international extradition, told Insider.
While answers and accountability remain a mystery, members of the community, ministers, friends and family members gathered at Little Rock AME Zion Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, Saturday, Dec. 10 to show their sustained support.
Charlotte reporters travel throughout NC in search of “friends”
Robinson’s sister, Tequila Long, said those present during the trip lied to her family about the details surrounding the 25-year-old’s death from the very beginning. Her mother also pointed out contradictions in the versions of events offered by the group which went with her in Cabo.
The FBI issued an arrest warrant in late November for an unidentified friend who was on that trip. Federal and international investigations into Robinson’s death are ongoing, and WSOC Channel 9’s Joe Bruno traveled across North Carolina trying to track down four friends who were on that trip, however, none were able to be located.
WBTV reported on a brief conversation between themselves and a potential witness.
Through a source, on December 13, they were given a name, but because she has not been charged with any crime, WBTV did not reveal her identity. Here is how they report the interaction went:
“Hi, are you *****?” WBTV’s Brandon Hamilton asked.
“Yes,” she replied.
“I work for WBTV. We’re just trying to figure out what happened to Shanquella,” Hamilton said.
After the brief conversation, she quickly closed her car door and drove off without answering anything.
The death of Shanquella Robinson has confounded the American public after she traveled to Mexico with six friends and never returned. Robinson’s parents have told media their daughter’s friends initially blamed her October 29 death on alcohol poisoning — but her death certificate listed trauma to the neck and spine as the cause.
Neither Mexican nor American authorities have publicly identified the suspect in question or announced an arrest, and it’s unclear where the suspect is currently located.
And while there is no requirement under international law to comply with extradition requests, the US and Mexico have an established, decades-old extradition treaty both countries generally comply with.
Shanquella Robinson still mourned by those who knew her best
Like bro.. this is her family’s first holiday season without her… prayers to Shanquella Robinson’s family, especially during this time
— gemini ? (@Amor_Taj) December 27, 2022
The Atlanta Black Star reports Jonathan Dorrest, a former high school classmate of “Quella,” remembers her as a popular cheerleader with a good fashion sense. As an online bouquet and children’s hair braiding business owner, Robinson worked on completing her studies at Winston-Salem State University right before her death.
“She was my personal stylist,” Dorrest said. “She loved to get dressed. She loved to get fresh. She was one call away from me always.”
“I feel like we don’t really understand how little time we have with the people we love,” Dorrest continued. “Life is fragile, fleeting, complex and confusing. We know all good things come to an end, yet we still have difficulty processing them. I wish this had never happened to Quella.”
No arrests have been made at this time.
Well this article doesn’t mention of the biggest smoking guns which is the missing money and cellphone, and all the timeline inconsistencies in regards to Shanquella’s demise. I understand this is all has allegedly happened but given that there is a lot of pressure being applied by social media for those accused of her murder from the trip and who are still “missing” btw. The villa in question recently changed it’s name to still receive customers so that no one knows a murder has occurred on their property is also very telling. There is way more as Wiggins states in his video and I believe him as far as that statement goes but for a different reason. Please keep the stories coming on Shanquella Robinson. It is very important because there are a lot of black folks and mostly black women in Mexico and this story may not be the last and if things do go as they should it will be in the best interest of those who may not be as safe as they believe they are living or just visiting there. They need American dollars so if this case is not settled, I hope there will be less going to those places if Americans are not safe because of loopholes in a system that can be manipulated by underhanded people such as her travel mates that left her body and never gave any explanation after the truth was found out about how she really died that day. So sad and infuriating but at least spread the word about her and her family so that justice can prevail. Her birthday is coming up too on January 9th, yellow hearts <3 to remember her.
In America we definitely value one life over another. Even with all of this video evidence, people crying for justice, a family sharing their pain and confusion, many people trying to conduct their own investigation, the black community outraged. It’s as though we are not entitled to the truth or justice. If there were celebrities involved ($$$) or if the subject of the assault was not an African American female, then the importance or urgency would be greater. It’s so sad that this case has been essentially put on the back burner and/or the community is not entitled to any better understanding of American/Mexican law.