Police: Unknown Where Robinson Was Hiding

Many questions remain unanswered in the surrender of Monique Robinson, 18, of Phoenixville.

The Phoenixville Area High School student has been on the run from police since a for her arrest on Sept. 21. On Tuesday, Dec. 27, at West Chester Police Department and she's currently in Chester County Prison. The severity of the crime makes it an unbailable offense, and Robinson was video-arraigned by District Judge Nancy Gill shortly after 9 p.m. on Tuesday evening.

According to Cpl. Patrick Mark of the Phoenixville Police Department, there's still no word on where Robinson was hiding during her months as a fugitive.

"I don't believe she's going to give a statement on that," Mark said.

Her attorney, Robert J. Donatoni, contacted Chester County Detectives late Tuesday to give a heads up that Robinson was planning to surrender.

"I think it was a little before she surrendered," Mark said.

He explained that while he isn't positive, Robinson most likely won't face additional charges for waiting to come forward. Mark said he wasn't sure if others will be charged for helping Robinson while she was on the loose.

"That's still being investigated," he said.

Robinson has not yet given a statement to police about the , the 22-year-old who died of a single bullet wound to the abdomen on Prospect Street on Sept. 14 shortly after 1 a.m.

Two others on Sept. 20 and charged with the murder on Sept. 21. Stephen Reidler, 23, of Linfield, and Saleem Williams, 20, of Sharon Hill, both gave statements to police. A second victim in the attack also gave a statement.

Robinson plays different roles in all three statements. In a statement by the second victim, Lopez-Mauricio's uncle, Williams was the aggressor, knocking Lopez-Maurico to the ground and taking a backpack, later found to contain $300 in cash, from his shoulders. In the victim's statement, Williams tossed the backpack to the white female, who police believe is Robinson.

According to the uncle's statement, all three took off and Lopez-Mauricio chased after them in the 100 block of Prospect Street.

"[The second victim] observed Selvin attempting to retrieve the backpack from the female," the criminal complaint states. "At this time, the black male fired a single gunshot at Selvin."

In Reidler's statement, taken Sept. 20, he referred to Robinson as "Geek" and said the trio discussed "rolling or robbing a Mexican" while standing around behind buildings in the 200 block of Bridge Street.

According to Reidler's statement as recounted in the criminal complaint, he and the others saw the two victims standing on the side of the street in the 100 block of Prospect Street.

"Reidler stated that the threesome approached the two men and Saleem [Williams] then pulled a gun and told one of the men to give him his money," the criminal complaint states.

One of the victims started to struggle with Williams in Reidler's version of events, and Reidler said he restrained the second victim, according to police. As in the second victim's statement, at this point the backpack was tossed to Robinson.

Reidler said he fled the scene and later saw "Geek" and Williams running north. According to police, Reidler picked Robinson out of a photo lineup and identified her as the person he referred to as "Geek."

In Williams' version of events, Robinson has a more active role. He allegedly told police that Robinson attempted to take the backpack from one of the male victims and also had a gun in her possession at the time.

"Williams stated that while he physically struggled with the male, Monique [Robinson] handed him an automatic handgun and said, 'Shoot him!'" according to court papers.

Williams allegedly told police he fired one shot and then he and Robinson fled east, with Robinson carrying Lopez-Mauricio's backpack. Reidler left the scene earlier, Williams said, fleeing toward Main Street.

On Sept. 20, Williams was shown a photo lineup and, like Reidler, he identified Robinson as the woman who took part in the robbery and murder, according to police.

Both Williams and Reidler allegedly stated that all three met up later at a Bridge Street apartment.

Because the gun used in the homicide hadn't been found, Robinson was listed as armed and dangerous by police. According to Mark, neither the handgun nor the black backpack have been recovered, and Robinson didn't have them when she surrendered to police Tuesday evening.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monique Robinson on Jan. 12 in district court. In prior court appearances, Reidler for Williams.

Editor's Note: The preliminary hearing was originally reported as Jan. 5, but it has been continued and will now be held Jan. 12 in district court.