Ariel Robinson will spend the rest of her life behind bars for the death of her foster daughter, Victoria "Tori" Rose Smith.
Robinson, who was the winner of season 20 of Food Network's Worst Cooks in America, was found guilty of beating the 3-year-old girl to death. The incident occurred on January 14, 2021. Robinson committed the heinous crime along with husband Jerry Austin Robinson, whom she assigned responsibility for the child's death to during the trial's action.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
At the hearing sharing Robinson's fate, Judge Letitia H. Verdin didn't mince words on her feelings on this matter.
"I can say that in my 13, 14 years of being a judge I've never seen anything like this. Not even approaching it," she said, per WYFF.
"And what compounds it is that I understand what your attorney is saying, perhaps you snapped at that moment, but then why let this child suffer and not get the medical attention that she desperately needed as she lay dying in her own bedroom."
Victoria Rose was beaten to death by the couple, who delivered blows to her legs and abdomen as a form of punishment. The 3-year-old was being punished for not eating her pancakes fast enough. Authorities also believe the couple had another incident the night prior where the little girl had thrown up on herself, frustrating Ariel.
During the trial, Jerry testified to walking in on his wife holding a belt and that she allegedly beat the girl because she was frustrated with her. Ariel says that she was not responsible and it was her husband who beat the little girl severely the night prior to her death, while Ariel was allegedly out for groceries. In the end, the judge felt Ariel was just as responsible.
"Based upon all of that, the sentence of the court cannot be anything but life in prison," she ruled.
Jerry called 911 later that night, but it was too late. He told dispatchers that the child had drunk too much water and they'd attempted CPR.
"Mr. Robinson is extremely remorseful for what happened to Tori," Jerry Robinson's attorney, Lucas C. Marchant, said in a statement.
"He loved her very dearly and he knows that he failed her as her father. He has accepted responsibility for his actions, or rather inactions in this tragic situation. Following this horrific event, he has fully cooperated with law enforcement and the prosecution to bring closure to this case."
Ariel's legal team declined to comment on her verdict and sentence. It's unclear when Jerry will be sentenced.
Victoria's biological family, who appeared in court, hugged through tears as the verdict was read.
"Praise God," Vickie Phares, the child's biological great-grandmother, said.
"Justice was served for our baby."
