The GoFundMe page set up following the death of Shanquella Robinson has almost reached $400,000 as details surrounding her death continue to spark concern.
The 25-year-old Robinson was found unconscious in the living room of a rented villa in San José del Cabo, a resort city on the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, on October 29.
Robinson had traveled to Mexico with six university friends, four women and two men, her father Bernard Robinson told the The New York Times following her death.
Her death and the mystery surrounding it quickly sparked concerns by her family and social media users.
These concerns were amplified after a video showing Robinson being beaten began circulating online in November.
The short 20-second clip showed Robinson, who was identified by her father, being punched and kicked by another woman in the video.
A male recording the video can be heard saying: "Quella, can you at least fight back?" The man does not intervene.
Mexican prosecutors are reportedly attempting to have a woman extradited from the U.S. to face charges related to her death.
Multiple social media accounts and YouTubers have alleged that Robinson's friend Daejanae Jackson is the individual beating her.
Some rumors have suggested that Jackson has already been arrested and is in the process of being extradited. Newsweek has so far been unable to determine Jackson's location or status.
The post alleging the arrest has been deleted and the account has made another post claiming that a Mexican reporter had lied to bloggers about the arrest of Jackson.
The GoFundMe page has expressed the frustration and confusion felt by the family regarding the details of Robinson's death.
"My name is Quilla Long, the sister of Shanquella Robinson. My beautiful sister Shanquella Robinson, recently went on a trip to Cabo, Mexico, with people she believed were her friends," the GoFundMe page read.
"During this trip, she was found dead. Her associated claimed she died of alcohol poisoning, but the death certificate from the Mexican government contradicts this statement, as it reveals a broken neck and cracked spine and a time of death which is 15 minutes after she sustained these injuries.
"The United States State Department released a statement claiming 'No clear evidence of foul play' yet there is a video circulating of a woman violently attacking Shanquella.
"This statement is unacceptable, and we are beyond devastated. We continue to fight for the truth.
"We face a tremendous unexpected financial burden and a great deal of pain as we prepare to lay my sister to rest. Any support you can contribute to our legal fees and other critical expenses is greatly appreciated."
When contacted by Newsweek, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said: "The Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas.
"When a U.S. citizen dies in a foreign country, local authorities are responsible for determining the casue of death.
"The Department of State supports a thorough investigation into the circumstances of this incident and is closely monitoring local authorities' investigation."
Regarding the Mexican authorities extradition request of an American woman, the State Department said they do not comment on matters of extradition.
Newsweek has contacted the FBI and Sallamondra Robinson and Quilla Long for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Gerrard Kaonga is a Newsweek U.S. News Reporter and is based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on U.S. ... Read more
