An Ohio woman has been arrested after a dead teenager was found in her bedroom, allegedly a month before police found the body during a welfare check.
LaRonda Anne Mitchell was arrested and taken into custody on Tuesday, May 5. He was charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter, kidnapping, child endangerment, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse and one count of failure to report the charges, according to court records. Us Weekly.
The young victim has been identified as Donnamalay Davis, his father confirmed to WFMJ.
Police found the boy’s body after a concerned resident called for a welfare check after someone at Mitchell’s home said Davis, 16, was “sick and needed God’s healing,” according to WKBN. The concerned person added that they heard the teenager was “just gone.”
Austintown Police Department officers responded to the residence around 4 p.m. to check on the welfare of a juvenile, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by WKBN. When they arrived, a woman answered the door and authorities described it as “disagreement.”
Investigators spoke with the 12-year-old at the home, who reportedly said everything was fine. However, the police discovered that the bedroom door was closed while searching the house. The police then entered the room and found the body of the boy.
An insider told investigators the room was “sealed” because of the smell, adding that Davis had been dead for at least a month.
As the investigation continued, authorities discovered that the situation was related to religious healing. People at the home reportedly told police that Davis’ death “had to happen” because he was “recovering” after an illness, according to WFMJ.
After Davis’ body was found, the police took two other children from the home and locked them up.
Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Mitchell on Monday, May 4, and he was booked into the Mahoning County Jail the next day.
Mitchell, 38, appeared in his arraignment via video and the court set his bond at $500,000.
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It is not yet clear whether Mitchell has entered a plea or retained an attorney after his arrest. The Austintown Township Police Department did not immediately respond Us‘ a request for comment on the case.
The Mahoning County Coroner’s Office has not released the cause or manner of Davis’ death. Investigators are still working to determine what happened inside the home before her death.
Mitchell, who remains in custody, is scheduled to return to court for a hearing on May 27.
