Oklahoma City, OK – A mother in Oklahoma has been sentenced to more than two decades in prison after investigators determined her 7-year-old daughter died from severe abuse, starvation, and medical neglect, with disturbing allegations that the child’s mouth had been “glued shut” on several occasions.
A local judge handed down the sentence last week following a series of guilty pleas that exposed the extent of the suffering endured by Violet Mitchell, whose weight had dropped to only 25 pounds before she was taken to a hospital already deceased.
Court Sentencing Details in Violet’s Death Case
Authorities confirmed that 32-year-old Lisa Mitchell pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the 2024 death of her daughter. Judge Cindy H. Truong ordered her to serve 24 years in prison, followed by six years of supervised release.
The victim’s father, Anthony Yonko, entered a guilty plea to the same charge last month and received a matching sentence.
Two additional family members were also held accountable:
- David Yonko, the victim’s uncle — 20 years in prison
- Tiffany Mitchell, the victim’s aunt — 20 years in prison
Court documents and case information were previously detailed by local reporting through Law&Crime, which described the depth of the child’s physical condition and the inconsistent stories given by the adults involved.
Discovery of the Child at Saint Anthony’s Midwest Hospital
Police reports show that Midwest City officers were alerted on August 2, 2024, after the Oklahoma County Medical Examiner’s Office notified them of a child who had been transported to the emergency room already deceased.
According to the affidavit, the child:
- Showed rigor mortis
- Had internal and external injuries
- Released black and dark red secretions when medical staff attempted resuscitation
Healthcare professionals told investigators that the child was severely malnourished, measuring 37 inches and weighing just 25 pounds. For comparison, the CDC lists the average weight for a 7-year-old girl at around 50 pounds.
Conflicting Stories From Family Members
Investigators noted that Anthony Yonko repeatedly changed his explanation about the events leading up to the child’s death. Initially, he claimed the victim had the flu and was being fed crackers and soup.
Police also reported:
- Yonko could not identify the “friend” who supposedly drove them to the hospital
- He later said his brother was the one who drove them
- He added that several other people were present in the apartment that morning, contradicting his first account
Detectives documented that Yonko struggled to explain the extreme malnourishment, at one point claiming the victim weighed 50 pounds just days earlier.
Autopsy Findings Reveal Severe Neglect
According to the Oklahoma City Medical Examiner:
- Violet had sunken eyes
- Weighed 29 pounds at autopsy
- Was 40 inches tall
- Was wearing a diaper intended for a toddler
- Was described as “essentially skin on bone”
A critical discovery was that the child had swallowed the rubber top of a baby-bottle nipple, which fully obstructed her intestines. The examiner listed the cause of death as “failure to thrive.”
A disturbing allegation also emerged from a cousin, who stated that Violet’s mouth had been glued shut on multiple occasions by her parents.
Ongoing Questions Surrounding Intent and Abuse
The autopsy report noted that it was unclear whether the intestinal obstruction was accidental or intentional. However, investigators emphasized that the child had not been taken to a doctor for years and showed clear signs of prolonged starvation and abuse.
Authorities documented a long pattern of neglect inside the family’s apartment on East Reno Avenue, adding that multiple adults failed to intervene despite the child’s visible condition.
Community Impact and Reflections
The case has shaken the Oklahoma City community, prompting renewed discussions about mandatory reporting, child welfare oversight, and intervention programs for at-risk families. Officials stressed the importance of immediate reporting when signs of child neglect or abuse appear.
Ensuring children are seen by healthcare providers, school personnel, or community members can often be the difference between life and tragedy, authorities noted.
Conclusion
The sentencing of multiple family members closes a devastating chapter in a case where a young child endured severe neglect and abuse. While several individuals are now serving lengthy prison terms, the circumstances surrounding Violet’s death highlight ongoing systemic concerns about child safety and early intervention.
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