WARNING: This story contains graphic details involving neglect of a child that may be upsetting for readers. Discretion is advised.
MIDWEST CITY (KFOR) – New disturbing details have come out after a seven-year-old was brought dead to the hospital with bruises and looking malnourished in early August.
Earlier this week the girl’s cousin spoke to police and broke down that the abuse allegedly came from inside the home and other adults knew about it but said nothing.
Two new arrests came as a result, David Yonko and Tiffany Mitchell, the child’s uncle and aunt.
It was early in August that Anthony Yonko and Lisa Mitchell brought their seven-year-old daughter Violet Mitchell’s body to St. Anthony’s Medical Center.
According to a police report, Violet weighed just 25 pounds and was 3 feet 1 inch tall.
When brought to the hospital she was blue, stiff, covered in dust and soot, and appeared to have internal and external injuries.
Officials said she came in with several bruises, red liquid coming out of her mouth, and overall weighed only 25 pounds. Officials noted that there was more to the story.
The girl’s cousin told police earlier this week that the parents reportedly beat, cursed at, poured hot food on, and more throughout the past couple of months or more.
“That child never deserved that,” said Tera Day.
Day told KFOR that she fed Violet just two days before she would be brought dead to the hospital.
“I took her because she was hungry,” said Day. “She looked malnourished. I fed her chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, and carrots. 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.”
According to the arrest warrant, David and Tiffany were arrested in connection to the case for allegedly knowing all of the abuse was occurring but not saying anything to the police.
The cousin told police that the parents tortured the girl, pouring hot food on her arms and legs, gluing her mouth shut, hitting her with a broom, and leaving marks.
Violet was allegedly kept in a crib with her arms and hands tied and was also kept in the crib for a long time — possibly a month.
Sometimes the cousin told police, she would grab Violet and run out of the home so they would stop hitting her.
Other accusations according to the arrest warrant included the parents tying Violet’s arms and legs with strings and just leaving her in the crib while they went out. Sometimes, the cousin told police they would quickly untie her but then tie her back up before everyone came back, out of fear.
“They should spend the rest of their life in jail because that is a baby,” said Bridgette Mccullough who is a neighbor. “That is a baby, they are so helpless.”
Right now all four are in jail, Anthony and Lisa face second-degree murder charges while David and Tiffany face child neglect and aggravated abuse.
