Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.
“Shanika Robinson and Isiah Genus” is an episode of Snapped: Killer Couples that will be aired on Oxygen on Sunday, March 17, 2024, at 6 p.m. ET. It will revolve around the killing of Shahabuddin Rana, an owner of a Washington pizza mart, who was found dead inside the mart on August 18, 2009.
The Robinson siblings, Shanika and Leon, were both convicted of first-degree murder, while Isiah Genus pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Shahabuddin. Isiah and Shanika were dating at the time. Shanika had married Rana’s younger brother in exchange for a weekly pay of $500 as part of an immigration scheme so that he could get a green card, ABC 7 reported.
Isiah Genus testified that Shanika Robinson decided to kill Shahabuddin after he stopped paying her the money. She then drove Leon Robinson and Isiah Genus to Shahabuddin’s mart in the 2300 block of Fourth Street NE and requested him to let her in through the front door while the men hid. When he opened the door, the three of them barged in, and Leon allegedly began stabbing Shahabuddin with a knife as Shanika went through the store to steal stuff, per court documents.
Shahabuddin Rana was found dead and locked inside the mart. Soon after, Shanika Robinson and Isiah Genus were charged with the murder and taken into custody, NBC Washington reported.
How many years were Shanika Robinson and Isiah Genus sentenced to?
Shanika Robinson and Isiah Genus were sentenced to 54 and 20 years in prison, respectively. Leon Robinson was sentenced to nearly 76 years behind bars. The Washington Post reported that Genus cut Shahabuddin’s throat, as per his testimony in court. He repeatedly stabbed Rana, and Leon wielded a hammer to hit him.
The autopsy reports were consistent with Isiah Genus’ testimony. The report revealed that Shahabuddin Rana had twelve stab wounds and suffered multiple blunt-force injuries. The cause of death was stab wounds to the torso and blunt-force trauma to the head. The body was also severely burned, according to court documents.
Isiah Genus explained that they took Shahabuddin Rana into the storage room, and Shanika helped them burn his body. She also offered them latex gloves before the attack to not leave their fingerprints or any evidence behind. However, Genus also claimed that he had no idea that Leon had a weapon at the time. The weapons were reportedly cleaned with bleach, and their blood-stained clothes were burned. Although they also cleaned the car they drove in with bleach they stole, Shahabuddin’s blood was found inside the vehicle.
Shanika Robinson and Isiah Genus were 26 years old at the time of the murder. The former had reportedly lost her job a little earlier and had asked Shahabuddin for a job. However, he offered her $500 instead for marrying his brother and helping him get a green card. She claimed he was angry with her after the marriage was found to be a sham by authorities.
“Shanika Robinson and Isiah Genus” will be aired on Oxygen on Sunday, March 17, 2024, at 6 p.m. ET.
