GRAFTON, WV – Authorities in Taylor County have charged a local woman with murder after her 11-year-old stepdaughter died under conditions police allege included long-term neglect and starvation.

Shannon Faith Robinson, 51, was arrested Wednesday and faces allegations that she failed to provide basic necessities to the child in her care, ultimately causing the girl’s death. Robinson is being held without bond at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail.

The case came to the attention of law enforcement on the evening of Feb. 16, when sheriff’s deputies were called to a home on Nector Street in Grafton. Emergency responders had requested assistance after finding an unresponsive juvenile on the kitchen floor. Medics were already attempting lifesaving measures when deputies arrived.

Investigators described the condition of the child as “severely malnourished.” According to official court documents, the 11-year-old appeared extremely small for her age, was wearing disposable pull-ups, and showed no signs of breathing or consciousness by the time deputies entered the home.

The child’s father reportedly knelt beside her while Robinson, who was said to be the primary caregiver, sat nearby during the response. Authorities learned from Robinson that the girl had suffered from what she described as flu-like symptoms for about a week prior to her death. However, Robinson acknowledged that medical attention had not been sought at any point.

Paramedics transported the young girl to Grafton City Hospital, where she was pronounced dead less than an hour later. An autopsy conducted by the state’s medical examiner found the child weighed just 43 pounds, far below what is normal for an 11-year-old. The report also noted the presence of head lice, a yellowish tint to the skin, protruding bones resulting from extreme thinness, as well as multiple bruises and lacerations across the body.

Medical findings determined that the cause of death was acute bronchopneumonia, with chronic malnutrition and failure to thrive contributing. The child’s height and weight fell well below the fifth percentile for her age, according to the autopsy report submitted to investigators on Oct. 7.

Further interviews with family members and others close to the family revealed the girl had been kept isolated from most outside contact for an extended time. Those interviewed described her health visibly deteriorating since the middle of last year, progressing to the point that she needed help walking and slept for most of the day.

Despite the obvious decline in her wellbeing, witnesses said Robinson and the girl’s father repeatedly declined to pursue medical treatment, allegedly because they feared being reported for potential abuse or neglect. A review of medical records indicated the girl had not seen a doctor since 2020, shortly after she moved in with Robinson.

The investigation also uncovered allegations that the child was purposely deprived of food as punishment. Witness accounts suggested that if the girl resisted or disobeyed Robinson, she would be denied food or given minimal sustenance for lengthy periods. Meanwhile, other household members received regular meals in her presence.

At this time, the victim’s father has not been charged in connection with the case. It is unclear when Robinson will next appear in court to face the murder charge. The investigation into the circumstances of the girl’s death remains ongoing.