According to digital court documents, Ariel Robinson, the past champion of the Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America Season 20 who is charged with homicide through child abuse, has been required to submit a DNA sample.
Robinson was charged with the murder of Victoria Rose Smith, who was put in Robinson’s protection by the South Carolina Department of Social Services. Although no trial date has been established, it is likely to take place this summer.
The accused was the champion of the Food Network reality show Worst Cooks in America. Robinson won $25,000 and a Food Network cooking set in the season’s finale, which aired on Aug. 2, 2020.
In the aftermath of her arrest, the network withdrew the episodes showing her from online and on-demand platforms.
Jerry Robinson, Ariel Robinson‘s husband, was charged with manslaughter by child abuse in the case but was released on $150,000 bail. His trial has been canceled as well. He is under home arrest and is being tracked through GPS.
Ariel Robinson & Jerry Robinson’s testimony
Jerry Robinson told police that his wife abused Smith on a regular basis and that he was outside the home the day she died when he heard her slapping her with a belt.
Later, Ariel Robinson stated that the girl died as a result of swallowing too much water. According to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office, Smith suffered from multiple blunt-force blows after being discovered dead at Robinson’s residence on the afternoon of Jan. 14.
According to the Solicitor’s Office, her adoption by the Robinsons was set to be finalized 5 days after her demise.