SHOCKING details have been revealed about the death of a seven-year-old girl found tethered to her crib with her mouth glued shut.
Violet Mitchell weighed just 29 pounds when she died after her parents claimed she had the flu.
Crawford Funeral ServicesViolet Mitchell weighed just 25 pounds when she died[/caption]
Oklahoma County DetentionHer mother Lisa Mitchell was charged with second-degree murder[/caption]
Oklahoma County DetentionHer father, Anthony Yonko, claimed she had the flu when he took her to hospital[/caption]
But a medical report describing the child as “skin on bones” has revealed her horrifying cause of death.
Violet swallowed a baby bottle topple which led to her death according to the report, seen by Oklahoma-based ABC affiliate KOCO.
The child from Midwest City, Oklahoma, had the rubber top of a baby bottle obstructing her intestines.
It isn’t clear if the obstruction was accidental or intentional.
But in August this year, police arrested Violet’s parents, Anthony Yonko and Lisa Mitchell.
Two other people, uncle David Yonko and aunt Tiffany Mitchell, were subsequently arrested following the initial investigation.
All four have been charged with second-degree murder in connection with Violet’s death.
Violet’s father claimed she weighed 50 pounds four to five days before her death, but had lost weight after coming down with the flu.
She was taken to hospital by her parents in August where she died.
Her cause of death was deemed “failure to thrive,” while she also had a bacterial infection and injuries to her cheek, shoulder, and left leg.
Officials said when Violet was brought into hospital she was blue, stiff, and covered in soot, and appeared to have both external and internal injuries.
They also reported she was covered in bruises and had red liquid coming out of her mouth.
The medical examiner said that her body was in a hospital gown, wrapped in a blanket with “sunken eyes, wearing a diaper that was otherwise sized for a three-year-old.”
Violet’s cousin Tera Day accused the girl’s parents of beating her, pouring hot food on her, and starving her.
She looked malnourished
Tera Day
In August, she told KFOR she had fed violet chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, and carrots, just two days before she was brought to hospital.
“She looked malnourished,” she said. “She didn’t tell me anything about her parents just that they loved her.
“That’s all she said and she cried and I took her back home.”
Oklahoma County DetentionHer aunt Tiffany Mitchell was later arrested[/caption]
Oklahoma County DetentionViolet’s uncle David Yonko has been charged over her death[/caption]
Tera also alleged that Violet’s parents glued her mouth shut and beat her with a broom as part of their campaign of abuse.
The arrest warrant also accused the pair of tying Violet’s limbs with zip ties and leaving her in the crib while they went out.
Both Yonko and Mitchell have pled not guilty to the charges.
Their other children have been taken into the care of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS).
In a statement, the DHS said, “This child’s death is a profound tragedy, and we are grateful to our law enforcement and medical partners whose efforts will help us and the community better understand the circumstances surrounding her death.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 800 422 4453 or live chat at https://www.childhelphotline.org/.
If a child or other person is in immediate danger, contact 911 immediately.
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