Fred Robinson

On the afternoon of August 5, 1960, the body of Fred Robinson, a 12-year-old African-American youth, was found in the surf near Edisto Island, South Carolina.   Robinson was last seen two days earlier after he had finished a day’s work on a shrimp boat.  Following a local investigation and an autopsy, the county coroner ruled the death an accidental drowning.    As further explained below, there is insufficient evidence to refute the coroner’s conclusion.  Accordingly, this matter should be closed.