'She just had so much to offer': Upstate parents charged in death of 3-year-old adopted child

3-year-old Victoria Smith identified as victim

SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. —

A Greenville County couple is behind bars, charged with homicide by child abuse involving their adoptive daughter.

A judge denied bond to Ariel Robinson, 29, and her husband, Jerry Robinson, 34, of Simpsonville on Tuesday.

Ariel Robinson earned both local and national recognition back in August when she won the Food Network’s show “Worst Cooks in America."

According to arrest warrants, the Robinsons inflicted a "series of blunt force injuries" to a 3-year-old, who the Greenville County Coroner’s office identified as Victoria Smith.

Smith passed away at the hospital.

WYFF News 4 has learned Smith was adopted by the Robinson family after spending most of her life as a foster child.

“When she entered a room, all eyes were on her, because she demanded it and she was a cutie,” Tiffany Huggins said.

Huggins and her husband, Cameron, were foster parents to Smith for 10 months, right before the Robinson's adopted her.

They said she instantly clicked with their family.

Her smile was contagious and she enjoyed singing and riding her bike.

They also said she knew how to grab attention.

“She was just a natural,” Tiffany Huggins said. “She had the best personality and I’m not just saying that cause I was her momma, but she was just our light. She was a beautiful child, inside and out."

"She blended into our family," Cameron Huggins said.

Ariel Robinson sat down with WYFF News 4 in August 2020 after winning the show.

At the time, she told the television crew the $25,000 grand prize would go a long way to help her and her husband, who recently adopted three children. Smith was one of them.

“I just know that the Lord had his hands on me and he had a purpose for me to go on there,” she said in August. “He knew we were going through this adoption, we really could use the money and he just let everything work out for our good.”

The former middle school teacher was a local comedian.

Justin Williams, an entertainment producer, booked her to perform at a Pickens County BBQ event back in November.

“She was hilarious, she was super sweet to everybody around her and she expressed a passion for working with children and working with just the community in general,” he said.

Many questions remain as Smith’s loved ones remember the 3-year-old’s impact on their lives.

“She just had so much to offer,” Cameron Huggins said.

“And she’s gonna be missed by many, many, many people,” Tiffany said.

In a statement to WYFF News 4, Wednesday afternoon a DSS spokesperson said:

“The South Carolina Department of Social Services is aware of allegations and the arrests made and is investigating along with law enforcement. The agency’s standard procedures in a case like this involves taking appropriate action with any children remaining in the home after evaluating safety and risk.”

SLED is investigating.