A West Virginia woman has been arrested after authorities say she starved her 11-year-old stepdaughter to death.
Shannon Robinson, 51, was indicted by a Taylor County grand jury on Tuesday, Jan. 20, on a charge of murder of a child by a parent, guardian or custodian, according to court documents obtained by WV Metro News, WDTV 5 and WBOY 12 News.
Robinson is being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail without bail, the outlets reported. It is not clear whether she has entered a plea or hired an attorney to comment on her behalf.
Deputies with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office said they were called to Robinson’s home in Grafton on Feb. 16, 2025, where they found the child unresponsive on the kitchen floor, according to court documents cited by WV Metro News. Investigators noted the girl appeared severely underweight and was wearing disposable pull-ups.
At the scene, Robinson allegedly told investigators the child had been experiencing “flu-like symptoms” for about a week before she was found, WDTV reported, citing the same documents. Authorities later determined the girl had not received medical care since 2020 — the year she began living with Robinson.
A medical examiner reported the child weighed 43 pounds and measured 47 inches tall at the time of her death — measurements described in the documents as “grossly inconsistent” with her age, according to WDTV. The examiner also found signs of severe neglect, including head lice, protruding bones, and multiple bruises and wounds.
Investigators also interviewed witnesses who claimed Robinson withheld food from the girl as punishment and was afraid to take her to the hospital because she feared a child abuse report, WV Metro News reported. Witnesses further alleged the child’s condition deteriorated to the point she was no longer able to walk.
It remains unclear whether the girl’s father — who also lived in the home — will face criminal charges.
