Texas – In a disturbing incident in Texas, a 30-year-old woman, identified as C. Yonko, has been charged with capital murder following the death of her 17-month-old daughter. The tragic event unfolded when the child was reportedly dropped from the third story of a hotel.
Police responded to a distressing call about an abandoned toddler on a Wednesday morning. Upon arrival, they discovered the toddler, in a severe state of distress, wrapped in a blanket. Despite the immediate medical attention and rush to a hospital trauma center, the girl succumbed to her injuries, which included trauma consistent with a fall and three puncture wounds on her back. The gravity of the situation deepened with the arrest of her mother, Yonko, who was found a half-mile from the hotel, visibly upset and seeking help. She was in distress, crying, and approached the officer for assistance. Yonko began talking about her daughter, mentioning that she might be “sick,” according to the officers’ report.
As police pieced together the events leading up to the young girl’s death, they learned from witnesses and the victim’s aunt, who had been staying with them at the hotel, about the disturbing sequence of events. The morning of the incident, Yonko and her sister were checking out of the hotel. The sister informed police that she, Yonko, and the 17-month-old girl had been staying together at the hotel. That morning, they were preparing to check out when she left Yonko and her niece to meet her fiancé at another hotel nearby. A short time later, Yonko, pushing a stroller, met up with her sister. The sister assumed the girl was in the stroller but did not actually see the child. When she mentioned returning to the hotel to pack her belongings, Yonko repeatedly urged her, “don’t go back to the hotel.”
Investigators later discovered in a trash bin outside the hotel a trash bag containing items linked to the room where they were staying, including a key card for room 217 and a “skinning” knife along with children’s toys, snacks, and diapers. Most damning was the surveillance footage from the hotel, which captured the moment the girl fell from the third story and additional footage showing Yonko earlier pushing her daughter, who was still alive, in her stroller.
Yonko was arrested and charged with capital murder, facing the severity of her actions in court without bond. The community and law enforcement expressed deep sorrow over the incident. Police Chief D. Balli emphasized the tragic nature of the crime and the commitment of the police department to bring justice for the 17-month-old girl and ensure the safety of all children in the community.
“This is a horrible crime. All children deserve to feel safe when around loved ones, especially with their own mother,” Chief Balli stated, reflecting the community’s shock and the gravity of the charge against Yonko. The case remains a poignant reminder of the vulnerabilities within families and the devastating impact of violence, raising questions about mental health, safety, and the mechanisms in place to protect the most vulnerable in society. As the legal proceedings continue, the community and the victim’s family seek closure and justice for the young girl, whose life was tragically cut short under horrific circumstances.
