Charlene Praay believes something happened to her grandmother Charlene Robinson. “I know in my heart that my grandmother did not die naturally,” she said.
FRUITPORT, Fruitport Township — A family wants answers after their loved one was found dead inside her home more than a week ago.
Charlene Praay’s name holds a special meaning to her. That’s because she shares the same name as the one who raised her and means the most to her: her grandmother.
“She told my mom when I was born, you can’t name her what you want to, you got to name her after me. And so, she got it. She was wonderful. She always had a way to make you laugh, even when you didn’t want to laugh. And she always just was so welcoming,” said Praay.
For years, her 77-year-old grandmother, Charlene Robinson, remained her backbone and biggest supporter.
So when she got the call that her grandmother was no longer here, Praay says she couldn’t believe it.
“This isn’t real. We had just seen her shortly before, and she was her,” said Praay.
Praay says her grandmother’s roommate told her that her grandmother, who was found with a bag over her head, had a night terror, fell into her trash and suffocated.
Wanting to be by her grandmother, Praay asked to stand in her grandmother’s bedroom while she was still there. But when she began looking around, she said things began to not add up for her.
“I was like, officer, this doesn’t make sense to me. If she were in bed, why is her phone underneath her? Why are her hands up like this? Why is her trash can in a completely different place in the room than where it would have been?” said Praay.
That’s why now she and her family are demanding answers, because she says they believe Robinson’s death was not an accident.
“I have my own beliefs about what has happened, but I don’t want to believe them. And I can’t throw accusations, but I know in my heart that my grandmother did not die naturally,” said Praay.
Fruitport Township Police is investigating Robinson’s death.
13 ON YOUR SIDE has reached out to gather details on the investigation, but has not heard back from the police.
