Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"The people who know what happened that day are the ones who were there on that trip. But they have never spoken out. That is, until now." — Britt
"Shankwella's manner of death is listed as violent." — Ashley Flowers
"In my opinion, self-defense is going to be hard to sell when we have, like you said, the video where she's not even fighting back and she's naked." — Britt
This episode delves into the suspicious death of Shenkella Robinson, a 25-year-old who traveled to Mexico with a group of college friends. Initially reported as alcohol poisoning, conflicting accounts and an anonymous call to her mother, Salamondra, soon cast doubt on this narrative. A leaked video depicting a violent altercation involving Shenkella and another woman, Dejane Jackson, emerged, further complicating the situation. The discrepancy between the initial explanation and the violent video, coupled with varying statements from the friends, led to an investigation by Mexican authorities, who issued an arrest warrant for Dejane Jackson, labeling the case as "femicide."
However, the pursuit of justice faced significant hurdles as the individuals involved were in the United States, leading to a complex extradition process. Adding to the confusion, a second autopsy conducted by the FBI in the U.S. yielded different results, ruling the cause of death as undetermined due to a lack of definitive evidence of homicide despite signs of blunt force trauma and brain swelling. This led to the dismissal of federal charges, leaving Shenkella's family devastated and feeling blindsided by the contradictory findings and the lack of cooperation from U.S. authorities.
The case has evolved into a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Shenkella's family against the group, known as the "Cabo Six," as well as against the FBI and the State Department for their handling of the investigation and extradition requests. While claims against federal agencies were dismissed, the lawsuit against the group members remains pending. Dejane Jackson, who has since changed her name, claims self-defense, a narrative that the family and podcast hosts find difficult to reconcile with the available video evidence and the circumstances surrounding Shenkella's death, particularly her state of undress during the incident. The family continues to advocate for justice and accountability.