RICHMOND, Va (WTVR) -- Handcuffed and dressed in an orange jail suit, ShaVaughn Robinson appeared in court to learn she would have to remain behind bars as the court sifts through the details of her case to determine if she qualifies for bond again.
Robinson appeared weak and fragile during today's proceeding where Richmond Circuit Judge Beverly Snukals re-appointed her defense attorney to represent her for an additional, upgraded charge of first-degree murder.
The 27-year-old mother has been in lockup since the end of May, after police arrested her for putting her newborn in a Richmond dumpster. Originally Robinson was charged with felony concealment of a body, the murder charged was handed down Wednesday.
Investigators said Robinson gave birth to a baby girl inside a bathroom while at work at the Lee Medical Building off Monument Avenue. Police said Robinson then discarded the newborn in a dumpster behind the building. A cleaning crew later found the child's body.
Robinson's public defender, Po Chau, said she is waiting to see if the two felonies for concealment of a body and murder will be combined. Chau said the case has been extremely difficult for her client, who still has a 4-year-old son at home.
"Like any normal person who is charged or accused of murder they would be upset," Chau said. "And I think that would be how I would classify or say about how my client is feeling at this point. And I think that's a normal person's feeling."
At this time ShaVaughn Robinson's preliminary hearing for the felony charge of concealment of a body is scheduled for June 12, but that date could change.
