by Midwest City, OK — A 38-year-old father, Anthony Yonko, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for the murder of his 7-year-old daughter, Violet Mitchell, whose emaciated body was brought to a local hospital last year. The case has shaken the community with its disturbing details of neglect and abuse.
Father Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder
Oklahoma County District Judge Cindy H. Truong handed down the sentence on Thursday, after Yonko pleaded guilty to second-degree murder of a child. Following his prison term, Yonko will also serve six years of supervised release, according to court records reviewed by Law&Crime.
Yonko’s daughter, Violet Mitchell, was found weighing just 25 pounds at the time of her death — about half the normal weight for a child her age. The judge’s decision came after months of investigation and harrowing testimony about the child’s living conditions.
The victim’s mother, Lisa Mitchell, is scheduled to stand trial next month for the same charge, while the victim’s uncle, David Yonko, and aunt, Tiffany Mitchell, have both pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and were each sentenced to 20 years in prison.
As he arrived at court, Yonko refused to speak to reporters, telling one cameraman from KFOR, “Don’t put me on the news.”
Discovery of the Tragedy
According to the Midwest City Police Department, officers were notified by the county medical examiner’s office on August 2, 2024, after Violet was transported to Saint Anthony’s Midwest Hospital by her parents and declared dead shortly after arrival.
Medical staff reported that Violet showed signs of rigor mortis, internal and external injuries, and severe malnutrition. Her body weight was recorded at 25 pounds, and she measured 37 inches tall — far below the average for a 7-year-old.
Doctors also noted black and dark red secretions from her mouth during attempts to resuscitate her. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average weight for a girl that age should be around 50 pounds.
Conflicting Statements and Arrest
During questioning, Yonko gave investigators multiple conflicting stories. He initially claimed that Violet had fallen ill with the flu and that he and Lisa Mitchell had been feeding her “crackers and soup.” He added that they had not sought medical help “since she was much younger.”
He also told police a “friend” had driven them to the hospital but failed to identify this person. Later, Yonko changed his story, saying his brother had taken them instead.
Police arrested Yonko shortly afterward, suspecting his involvement in chronic neglect and abuse. His brother later told officers that Yonko was “freaking out” the morning of Violet’s death and insisted they rush her to the hospital. The brother dropped them off and left, saying he was “afraid” and had to go to work.
Horrific Autopsy Findings
A report from the Oklahoma City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner revealed Violet’s cause of death as “failure to thrive.” The autopsy determined that she had swallowed the rubber top of a baby bottle nipple, which completely blocked her small intestines.
At the time of her death, Violet weighed only 29 pounds and was wearing a diaper meant for a 3-year-old. The medical examiner described her body as “essentially skin on bone,” adding that her eyes were sunken, and her physical condition suggested long-term starvation.
The report stated, “It is unclear to this examiner if the intestinal obstruction by the foreign body is accidental or intentional.”
Investigators also uncovered disturbing claims from relatives, including one cousin’s statement alleging that Violet’s parents had “glued her mouth shut” on multiple occasions to keep her from speaking or eating.
Do you believe Anthony Yonko’s 24-year sentence is enough for the horrific abuse that led to his daughter’s death?
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