A man convicted of murder in Minnesota will spend the rest of his life behind bars for killing his girlfriend, a devoted mother of three, whose body was discovered in a snowy ditch.
Mustafa Bush, 41, was sentenced on Friday for the tragic death of Kimberly Ann Robinson, also 41. He was found guilty of first-degree murder during domestic abuse and second-degree murder with intent but without premeditation. The case shocked the community, leaving friends and family heartbroken but grateful for justice.
“He gets to sit in a small jail cell for the rest of his life, and now he’s someone else’s problem,” said Jacklyn Bedtke, a close friend of Robinson’s family. “His life is over, just like the way he ended hers.”
During the court hearing, Bush apologized to his parents, though his remorse seemed too little, too late.
Robinson, who had been in a relationship with Bush, was last seen alive at a Christmas Eve party in 2022. Two days later, on December 26, 2022, a woman walking her dog in Cascade Township, located more than 80 miles south of Minneapolis, made a horrifying discovery. Her dog began pulling her toward a ditch in the snow, where she spotted what appeared to be a human arm sticking out of the embankment, about 20 to 25 feet from the road.
Police arrived at the scene and uncovered the body of a woman later identified as Robinson. Investigators quickly zeroed in on Bush as their prime suspect. He was arrested within days and charged with murder.
During the trial, the heartbreaking details of Robinson’s life and death came to light. One of her sons testified that his mother had sent him pictures of bruises on her body, warning that if anything ever happened to her, Bush would be responsible. Another witness told the court she had seen Bush burning something in a fire pit on the property he was staying at, just a day before Robinson’s body was discovered.
Bush had a history of violence. In fact, he was already a convicted murderer, having served 14 years in prison for a previous crime before his release in March 2020. He was on supervised release when he killed Robinson.
The community, along with Robinson’s devastated family, was shaken by the tragedy. A GoFundMe page created to raise funds for Robinson’s memorial service shared the deep pain of her children and loved ones. “My mom Kim was an amazing person who always had the best intentions,” wrote one of her children. “She didn’t deserve what happened to her. We will fight for justice and make sure it’s served.”
Bush, however, hasn’t stopped fighting his legal battles. Despite the overwhelming evidence, he filed for post-conviction relief in his earlier murder case, arguing that he wasn’t a major participant in that crime and didn’t act with extreme indifference to human life. A judge granted his preliminary application for a review, but it doesn’t change the fact that Bush will now spend his life in prison for taking Robinson’s.
The sentence brings a measure of justice for Kimberly Ann Robinson, a mother remembered for her love, kindness, and devotion to her children. While the pain of losing her remains, her family and community vow to keep her memory alive and advocate for victims of domestic violence.
