New autopsy results show Shanquella Robinson’s spine was not broken, but possible blunt force trauma

An independent autopsy performed on Shanquella Robinson by the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner found Robinson’s spine intact, Robinson family attorney Sue-Ann Robinson said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

New Shanquella Robinson autopsy results

The new autopsy results contradicts the claims of Mexican authorities, who said Robinson’s spine was broken.

Shanquella Robinson’s family ordered the autopsy by the US medical examiner to get more answers on the young woman’s death.

WBTV retained a copy of the autopsy results from the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner’s Office, which stated the following:

• No skull fractures are present
• No evidence of injury to [the] upper airway section and no hemorrhage in the surrounding neck muscle or fracture/hemorrhage of the mid-to-lower cervical and upper thoracic vertebral column.
• Removal and sectioning of the organs reveal no evidence of other trauma or disease process.
• No fractures of the ribs or the remainder of the vertebral column.
• Slight lateral scoliotic curvature is present in the upper-to-mid thoracic spine.
• No evidence of hemorrhage or disruption of any of the musculature, ligaments, or spinal elements.
• No fractures are seen on the posterior of the spinal column.
• No evidence of any disruption of the spinal column alignment or subluxation.

Shanquella Robinson

Based on the autopsy results, the medical examiner concluded Robinson’s cause of death to be undetermined, but that the most significant findings were hematoma of the forehead (pool of blood that forms in an organ, tissue, or body space), mild cerebral edema (concussion), and hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (inadequate blood flow/oxygenation of the brain).

The report stated that the hematoma of the forehead is consistent with blunt force trauma.

Investigation

U.S. prosecutors declined to file charges in the case, stating there was insufficient evidence.

Mexico authorities labeled Robinson’s death a femicide and had issued an arrest warrant in the case. US authorities have not honored a request to extradite anyone to Mexico related to those charges.

Shanquella Robinson, 25, died on October 29, 2022, while on a trip with friends to Cabo, Mexico.