A Food Network contestant assaulted the family of a three year old girl

A Greenville, South Carolina jury convicted defendant Ariel Robinson, a former participant on Food Network’s “Worst Cooks in America,” guilty of homicide by child abuse. Following a four-day trial, Judge Letitia Verdin sentenced Robinson to life in prison for the killing of Victoria “Tori” Rose Smith in January 2021.

“It’s a big comfort that Victoria got justice in the end.” Obviously, we’re still heartbroken that she’s gone, but we’re glad that the police, prosecution, and the court did such an excellent job, and that the jury could clearly see that she had committed the crime. “She’s going to serve her life sentence for that,” Smith’s great aunt Michelle Wooten Urps said of her family’s reaction to the judgment.

According to Greenville County documents, Robinson, 30, and her 35-year-old husband, Jerry “Austin” Robinson, were arrested and charged with homicide by child abuse in January 2021, following Smith’s death. According to FOX Carolina, Austin pled guilty last month to aiding and abetting homicide by child abuse and will serve between 10 and 20 years in jail.

Following a four-day trial, the jury pondered for roughly an hour and a half before reaching a decision. According to the publication, Robinson was sentenced to life in jail. “Honestly, her statement left me with a lot of bewilderment,” Wooten Urps said of Robinson’s testimony on Thursday. “She was definitely attempting to shift the responsibility. She never genuinely assigned blame to anyone. She stated that without saying anything.”

Robinson testified that Smith’s brother, who was 7 at the time of her death and whom the Robinsons were also fostering, would become enraged with his younger sister and may have contributed to her death, but the evidence presented in court pointed to Ariel and Austin as the primary abusers in the household. The prosecution is “very appreciative to the jury for their attentive attention and works on this sad case,” said Christy Kednocker Sustakovitch, assistant solicitor for the Greenville County Thirteenth Judicial Circuit.

“This jury was subjected to very horrifying sights and sounds. We are grateful for the outcome of this unfortunate situation “She stated. “In a circumstance like this, there are no winners. Tori cannot be brought back, but she will live on in our memories. In these circumstances, I’ve learned that the most you can hope for are justice, and the jury delivered just that. Victoria Rose Smith, may you rest in eternal peace.”

Prosecutors contended earlier this week that the Robinsons fatally beat Smith on Jan. 14, 2021, when officers discovered the girl lifeless in their house. Dr. Michael Ward, a forensic pathologist for Greenville County, testified on Wednesday that the toddler was hit with such force that her blood vessels ruptured, enabling blood to pool in her muscles and fat, perhaps leading to her death.

“If we lose enough blood, the heart won’t be able to pump,” he explained.