Summary: Crime Junkie – MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Shanquella Robinson

Host: Ashley Flowers | Co-host: Brit Prawat
Release Date: January 22, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Crime Junkie dives into the perplexing and heartbreaking case of Shanquella Robinson, a 25-year-old woman who died under suspicious circumstances while on a trip to Mexico with college acquaintances in October 2022. Host Ashley Flowers, joined by Brit Prawat, meticulously unpacks the events surrounding Shanquella’s death, the evolving accounts from her travel companions ("the Cabo 6"), new revelations from an anonymous group member, and the emotional and legal aftermath faced by her family as they continue to seek justice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A Mother's Nightmarish Scenario

• Ashley opens by relating her parental anxieties to the fear of something happening to a child far from home, in a place with different laws and no personal connections.
• The story is introduced: Shanquella travels from North Carolina to San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, for a friend's birthday, only to die within 24 hours of her arrival.
  • Quote (Ashley, 02:35):
    “One minute her daughter is calling her, telling her she's having this amazing time... But then 24 hours later, she's being told that her daughter is dead.”

2. Conflicting Stories from Friends

• Shanquella’s mother, Salamandra Robinson, receives confusing calls from “best friend” Khalil Cook: first that Shanquella is sick with alcohol poisoning, then hours later that she’s dead.
• Mexican authorities already interviewing the group; stories differ: some say Shanquella hit her head by the toilet, others claim she fell in the pool (06:17).
• Within 24 hours, an anonymous call alerts the family that there was a fight the morning Shanquella died, directly contradicting the friends’ claims (07:20).

3. Aftermath: The Cabo 6 Return & Leaked Video

• The group returns to the US the next day. Khalil and Dejanae Jackson (the birthday girl) visit the family repeatedly, insisting on the alcohol poisoning story; over-insisting raises suspicions (08:21).
• Shanquella was not originally invited on the trip, complicating the family’s relationship with the others (09:00).
• 12 days after Shanquella’s death, Mexican authorities inform the family that alcohol poisoning did not cause her death (09:29).

4. Shocking Medical Findings & The Video

• The Mexican autopsy lists cause of death as "violent"—specifically, a “severe spinal cord and neck injury” along with brain swelling and body bruises (11:29).
• Around November 15, a disturbing video leaks, showing Dejanae attacking a nude, defenseless Shanquella while others film and encourage the violence (13:16).
  • Quote (Ashley, 14:00):
    “She’s beating the living cattle... And Shanquella, like, isn't even able to... fight back or do anything to try to get away.”
  • Quote (Brit, 14:26):
    “Clearly, everyone is ready for this fight. They’ve got their phones out. They’re set up like a studio audience... she’s completely naked. How did she end up that way?”

5. Timeline & Medical Response Discrepancies

• The fight occurred between 7-7:30 a.m.; by noon, Shanquella is found on the villa bathroom floor, barely conscious.
• Doctor is not called until 2 p.m.; friends refuse to authorize hospital transport, insisting she only needs an IV (17:16).
• Shanquella eventually has a seizure and dies after intensive but delayed medical efforts.
  • Notably, her death certificate says she died 15 minutes after injury—contradicting the hours-long ordeal described (18:08).

6. Anonymous Insider (“Mike”) Speaks Out

• “Mike” (pseudonym) claims he was the last to arrive in Cabo, post-fight, and helped care for Shanquella, unaware of the violence.
  • He recounts that Dejanae called him in distress early the prior morning after a drunken argument and glass-breaking incident, suggesting potential motive (20:18).
  • He shares information with the family but never the police, and suspects crucial evidence would be in call logs and collected phones (22:27).

7. Legal Stalemates & Differing Autopsies

• By late November 2022, a Mexican prosecutor issues an arrest warrant for Dejanae (now Imani Green) for “femicide.” Extradition is stalled while the FBI investigates (23:13).
• In April 2023, the FBI discloses a second U.S. autopsy—contradicting the original. It finds no neck dislocation, just brain swelling and undetermined cause; without a homicide ruling, prosecution is infeasible (26:08, 27:54).
  • Quote (Ashley, 27:58):
    “Her cause of death ends up getting ruled undetermined.”
  • Forensic and prosecutorial experts confirm the challenges caused by these conflicting findings (29:09).

8. Civil Action & Ongoing Search for Justice

• With no criminal charges, Shanquella’s mother files a wrongful death suit against the “Cabo 6,” FBI, and State Department, alleging assault, coverup, and mishandling (30:27).
• Most claims against federal agencies are dismissed, but the case against the group remains active as of 2025 (31:02).
• Notably, Dejanae/Imani Green finally responds—admitting to the fight, but claiming self-defense and alleging Shanquella was belligerent (31:45).
  • Quote (Brit, 32:08):
    “In my opinion, self defense is going to be hard to sell when we have... the video where she's not even fighting back and she's naked.”

9. Lingering Questions & Memorial

• Many questions remain: why was Shanquella naked, what happened in the hours between the fight and discovery, and who truly found her (32:29–33:04).
• The family continues to hold vigils and call for renewed investigation.
  • Quote (Salamandra Robinson, via Ashley, 33:57):
    “Shanquella had a family that loved her, and she was an amazing child. She loved people... She needed justice. She can’t rest either.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Ashley (02:35):
  “But in that one, I would feel like my hands are tied. And that is the nightmare scenario that one mother found herself in...”
• Brit (04:10):
  “I'm sorry. Get her to the hospital and figure the money stuff out later.”
• Ashley (14:00):
  “Shanquella is like a rag doll. It feels like she can't fight back.”
• Ashley (29:09):
  “Is it possible that the fight played a role in Shanquella's death? Yes, but there's no way to prove that beyond a reasonable doubt...”
• Brit (32:08):
  “Self defense is going to be hard to sell when we have... the video where she's not even fighting back and she's naked.”
• Salamandra Robinson, quoted by Ashley (33:57):
  “She needed justice. She can’t rest either.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00–04:10] – Parental anxiety, introduction, first call about Shanquella's illness and death
• [06:17–07:20] – Contradictory stories given to Mexican authorities; anonymous call revealing the fight
• [11:29] – Details of Mexican autopsy and violent injuries
• [13:16–14:26] – Description of leaked fight video
• [15:51] – Timeline gaps between fight and finding Shanquella
• [17:16] – Friends refuse to let Shanquella go to hospital
• [20:18] – “Mike” describes early morning argument and new insights
• [23:13] – Mexican prosecutor seeks extradition for femicide
• [26:08–27:54] – Second U.S. autopsy, undetermined cause of death, challenges to prosecution
• [30:27–31:02] – Civil lawsuit and responses from the Cabo 6
• [32:33–33:57] – Remaining questions and family’s continued fight for justice

Tone and Approach

Ashley and Brit maintain an empathetic, investigative, and unsettled tone—sympathetic to the family and frustrated at systemic hurdles and unanswered questions, while basing their narrative tightly on the facts, interviews, and new revelations.

Closing Thoughts

This episode highlights the emotional toll on Shanquella’s family, the challenge of cross-border justice, the power of digital evidence, and the limitations of medical/legal systems when truth is obscured by lies and incomplete investigations. The discussion is deeply respectful to the victim, while critically analyzing failures in both U.S. and Mexican processes.

If you have information, contact the Charlotte FBI at 704-67-26100.

For further resources and to view the referenced video, visit crimejunkie.com.