Simpsonville man and woman charged with homicide by child abuse in 3-year-old's death

TAMIA BOYD   | Greenville News

A Simpsonville man and woman have been arrested and charged with homicide by child abuse in connection to the death of a three-year-old child, according to authorities.

Jerry Robinson, 34, and Ariel Robinson, 29, were arrested Tuesday, according to warrants from the Simpsonville Police Department.

The Greenville County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Victoria Rose Smith, 3, of Simpsonville.

Ariel Robinson is a former teacher at Sanders Middle School who left the district at the end of the 2018-19 school year, according to Laurens County School District 55's director of personalized learning and public relations, Edward Murray.

The Simpsonville police responded to an address on Sellwood Circle on Jan. 14 in reference to an unresponsive child, according to an emailed press release. The child was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital.

With the assistance of the State Law Enforcement Division and the Coroner's Office, the Simpsonville Police Department determined through investigation that the child's death was a direct result of physical abuse.

Homicide by child abuse carries a sentence of 20 years up to life in prison, officials said.

Tamia Boyd is Michigan native and covers breaking news in Greenville. Email her at tboyd@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @tamiamb.