'I should've stopped it': Simpsonville man pleads guilty in foster child's death
TAMIA BOYD | Greenville News
A Simpsonville man pleaded guilty to homicide by child abuse/aiding and abetting in connection to the death of a 3-year-old girl in 2021.
Jerry Robinson, 35, claimed he never physically hurt Victoria Rose Smith, the 3-year-old girl, but told investigators that Ariel Robinson would beat her with objects like belts and paddles prior to her death.
Jerry and Ariel Robinson were fostering to adopt Victoria and a hearing in the formal adoption process was scheduled for Jan. 19, five days after the girl's death.
During Thursday's hearing, Jerry Robinson pleaded guilty while Ariel Robinson, who is also charged with homicide by child abuse, is planning to go to trial.
'Our daughter is unresponsive'
Jerry Robinson called 911 around 2:15 p.m. on Jan. 14, 2021, to report that Victoria was unresponsive in their Sellwood Circle home in Simpsonville.
“We have an emergency, our daughter is unresponsive. She drank a lot of water. We tried to do CPR to get it out,” Assistant Solicitor Christy Sustakovitch said in court Thursday to refer to Jerry Robinson's 911 call.
Ariel Robinson told first responders that she believed Victoria was drinking too much water and responders saw unexplained and excessive bruising on her abdomen, ear, back and legs, Sustakovitch said during her remarks in court.
Ariel Robinson told police that the night before, Victoria had thrown up on the way to church and they had pizza following the service. The family went to bed and there were no issues, Sustakovitch said of Ariel Robinson's statements.
While home alone with Victoria, Ariel Robinson said Victoria kept asking for water and she filled up her cup five or six times. Victoria also mentioned that her stomach was hurting and Ariel gave Victoria a heated blanket before she went limp, Sustakovitch said of Ariel's account.
Ariel had said she attempted to perform the Heimlich maneuver because she believed Victoria was choking, Sustakovitch said.
Investigators asked Ariel Robinson about the bruising on her abdomen and she told them, “I did this. I was pushing really hard.”
Ariel Robinson claimed Victoria’s 7-year-old brother was responsible for the other bruising up and down her legs and said the 7-year-old had anger issues and was a liar, Sustakovitch told the court.
It was determined that Victoria died of multiple blunt force trauma. Victoria bled out inside of her own legs, Sustakovitch said.
'She would spank and beat her'
Jerry Robinson voluntarily met with officers days after Victoria's death and told them what had happened.
"She would spank and beat her," Jerry told investigators, Sustakovitch said.
Ariel Robinson also became angry over Victoria's eating habits including her taking too long to finish her food.
Jerry told investigators that it started when Victoria was fussing and wouldn't eat her pancakes fast enough, Sustakovitch said.
Jerry heard Ariel Robinson beat Victoria with a belt outside of the house and heard Victoria screaming. When Jerry Robinson came inside, he saw Ariel Robinson standing over Victoria saying, "You're not done. You don't get to tell me when you're done," Sustakovitch said during the court proceeding.
"By the time I walked inside, it was as if nothing was going on," Jerry Robinson said during Thursday's hearing.
Jerry Robinson said he saw the bruising and she was holding a belt while Victoria was crying.
"I told her you went too far this time and I should've stopped it," Jerry Robinson said during the hearing.
Jerry Robinson admitted that Victoria's brother did not cause the bruising, the other children were all in school.
Jerry Robinson will face 10 to 20 years minimum in prison and will be sentenced after Ariel Robinson's trial.
Officer says Ariel Robinson was ‘excited but calm’
While first responders rendered aid to Victoria, Ariel Robinson was in the living room with her hands on her hips, Sustakovitch said to the court.
Simpsonville Police Department officer Karlee Patrikis, who testified at the hearing, said she was informed that the call was in reference to a drowning but upon speaking with other officials, they informed her they were giving emergency care to Victoria.
Ariel Robinson came to speak with Patrikis and told her that she was Victoria's mom. Patrikis did not have any questions for her, Patrikis said.
"She was pretty calm. She was excited. she kept talking. She seemed OK," Patrikis said during the court proceedings.
After Victoria was taken to the hospital, Patrikis questioned Ariel Robinson about what happened. At this time, Ariel was not in custody nor was she arrested, Patrikis said.
Ariel Robinson did ask to leave to go to the hospital but was not able to because it was an active scene and officers were waiting for the Department of Social Services to arrive, Patrikis said.
A trial date has not yet been set for Ariel Robinson.
Body camera footage and photos of Victoria's bruising were reviewed by the court.
The court will allow some of the photos to be presented to a jury. Unredacted body camera footage will be reviewed by Judge Verdin and a decision on whether to permit that footage in trial will be made by next week.