Oklahoma City, OK – A 38-year-old father has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for the horrific abuse and death of his 7-year-old daughter, who was found emaciated, weighing just 25 pounds, and showing signs of rigor mortis when brought to a local hospital. Prosecutors said the girl’s mouth had been glued shut and she showed evidence of prolonged starvation and neglect.
The Incident: Child Found Unresponsive and Severely Malnourished
The tragedy unfolded on August 2, 2024, when Anthony Yonko and the child’s mother, Lisa Mitchell, arrived at Saint Anthony’s Midwest Hospital in Midwest City, Oklahoma, with the lifeless body of their daughter, Violet Mitchell.
Medical staff pronounced the girl dead shortly after arrival, noting that she had rigor mortis and appeared severely malnourished, according to a police affidavit.
“A doctor stated when working on the child, numerous amounts of black and dark red secretions came from the child’s mouth when pushing on her stomach area,” investigators wrote. “The child was extremely malnourished, weighing only 25 pounds and approximately 37 inches tall.”
For reference, the average weight for a 7-year-old girl is around 50 pounds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The condition of Violet’s body led police to suspect long-term abuse and neglect.
Investigation and Evidence: Father’s Story Changed Multiple Times
Midwest City Police launched an investigation after receiving a call from the county medical examiner’s office. Yonko initially told officers that Violet had been sleeping on a couch with her mother and that he awoke to find her “not moving.”
He claimed the child had the flu and that they were feeding her crackers and soup, but admitted the family had not taken her to a doctor in years.
As detectives continued questioning him, Yonko’s account began to change repeatedly.
“During the interview, Anthony changed his story numerous times,” police said. “He first stated only he, Lisa, and the victim were in the apartment, then later claimed several others were present.”
Yonko eventually said that his brother drove them to the hospital, though the brother later told police he dropped the family off and fled out of fear, saying he “needed to get to work.”
Inside the family’s Vista Green apartment complex, investigators found evidence suggesting severe neglect and possible confinement, though police have not detailed those findings publicly.
Autopsy Findings: “Essentially Skin on Bone”
An autopsy report from the Oklahoma City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner revealed that Violet died from “failure to thrive” — a condition indicating prolonged starvation and neglect.
The report described Violet as having sunken eyes, weighing just 29 pounds, and measuring 40 inches in height. When she arrived at the hospital, she was wearing a diaper designed for a 3-year-old.
The cause of death was further complicated by the discovery that Violet had swallowed a rubber baby bottle nipple, which completely blocked her intestines.
“It is unclear to this examiner if the intestinal obstruction by the foreign body is accidental or intentional,” the medical examiner stated.
Perhaps most disturbingly, one of Violet’s cousins told authorities that her parents had glued her mouth shut on multiple occasions, allegedly to stop her from eating or crying.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
On October 24, 2025, Oklahoma County District Judge Cindy H. Truong sentenced Anthony Yonko to 24 years in state prison after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder of a child. Following his release, he must serve six additional years of supervised probation.
“This was a prolonged pattern of cruelty and starvation,” prosecutors said during sentencing.
As he entered the courthouse, Yonko made a brief remark to a cameraman:
“Don’t put me on the news,” he said before the hearing began.
Lisa Mitchell, Violet’s mother, is scheduled to go on trial next month on the same charge of second-degree murder. Two other family members — David Yonko and Tiffany Mitchell — previously pleaded guilty and each received 20-year prison sentences for their role in the child’s death.
Statements and Public Reaction
Community members and children’s advocates have condemned the case as one of the most disturbing examples of child neglect in recent years.
Officials from the Midwest City Police Department described the conditions surrounding Violet’s death as “unimaginable.”
“This case demonstrates the devastating impact of abuse and isolation,” one investigator said. “No child should ever suffer this kind of prolonged torture.”
Child welfare organizations have since renewed calls for stronger monitoring of at-risk children and mandatory welfare checks for families with prior abuse complaints.
Background and Family History
Police reports indicated that the family had been living in poverty and had limited contact with social services. Violet had not attended school or received medical care for an extended period.
Prosecutors emphasized that despite difficult living conditions, the level of malnutrition and physical decline observed in Violet’s case could not have occurred without willful neglect.
Authorities said the ongoing trial of Lisa Mitchell will explore whether she directly participated in or enabled the starvation that led to Violet’s death.
Conclusion
The sentencing of Anthony Yonko closes one chapter in a deeply tragic case that has exposed severe systemic failures in child protection and family oversight. As the mother’s trial approaches, the state and the community continue to seek justice for Violet Mitchell, a young life lost to unimaginable cruelty.
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