An Ohio woman has been arrested after police discovered the body of a 16-year-old girl inside a taped-shut bedroom during a welfare check.
Ohio Woman Charged After Teen Found Dead in Home
LaRonda Anne Mitchell, 38, faces several charges, including involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and abduction.
The victim was identified as 16-year-old Donnamalay Davis.
Police Found Body During Welfare Check
According to reports, officers in Austintown, Ohio, responded to a home after a concerned person requested a welfare check.
Police said someone at the house claimed the teen was sick and needed to be “healed by God.”
When officers searched the home, they allegedly found a bedroom door taped shut. Inside the room, they discovered the teenager’s body.
Investigators were reportedly told the room had been sealed to contain the smell and that the teen had been dead for at least a month.
Investigation Linked to Religious Beliefs
Authorities said people inside the home allegedly claimed the teen’s death “had to happen” for healing purposes.
The exact cause of death has not yet been released by the coroner’s office, and investigators are still trying to determine what happened.
Police also removed two other children from the home for their safety.
Suspect Held on $500,000 Bond
Mitchell was arrested this week and booked into the Mahoning County Jail.
A judge set her bond at $500,000 during her court appearance.
She is expected back in court for a preliminary hearing on May 27.
