An 11-year-old girl was discovered deceased and weighing only 20kg at her residence, as per police reports.

Shannon Robinson, aged 51, was taken into custody following the unresponsive condition of her severely undernourished stepdaughter found on the kitchen floor on February 16. Allegedly, the police observed the girl in disposable pull-ups under her stepmother’s care. Robinson mentioned to investigators that the child had been experiencing flu-like symptoms for about a week before the tragic incident. A medical examination revealed that the 11-year-old weighed a mere 19.5kg (43 pounds) and was 3 feet, 11 inches tall, a stark deviation from the expected for her age.

The medical expert documented that the girl exhibited prominent bones, head lice, and various bruises and wounds on her body. Robinson, residing in West Virginia, lived with the young girl from 2020 onwards and now faces charges for the murder of a child under her custody.

Authorities alleged that the stepmother punished the child by withholding food from her, while others in the household consumed full meals in front of her, ultimately leading to her death by starvation. It was also revealed that Robinson intentionally refrained from seeking medical attention for the child since 2020.

Investigators disclosed that a witness attested to the girl’s declining health starting in 2024, to the point where she lost the ability to walk unaided. Robinson purportedly avoided taking the girl to medical professionals out of fear of facing charges for neglect or abuse.

While the girl’s father also resided in the household, it remains undisclosed if he will be implicated in the case.

This tragic incident follows another case where a different girl was supposedly starved to death, with only a single blueberry found in her stomach upon autopsy.

Jacqueline Torres-Garcia, known as Mimi, was tragically discovered deceased in the basement of an uninhabited residence in New Britain, Connecticut. Her mother, Karla Garcia, aged 29, faces charges of murder and associated offenses.

A medical examiner confirmed severe malnutrition and muscle atrophy as the cause of the girl’s demise. At the time of her passing, the 11-year-old weighed a mere 12kg and her body was found in an advanced state of decay.

Garcia has pleaded not guilty and is being detained on a $5 million bond, with a court appearance scheduled for January 30.