Stepmother Mckenley Yadon, 24, has been arrested for investigation of aggravated murder in the death of a toddler two months ago.
On March 14, officers were called to a home on reports of an unresponsive child. The caller reported the incident as a choking, according to an affidavit.
But the officer who responded to the home reported the 3-year-old "had been down for a period of time," police wrote. The officer saw dark purple and black bruising around the girl's left ear, the affidavit states, and "it was immediately apparent that these injuries were not consistent with the details initially provided for the medical response."
The toddler was pronounced dead shortly later at a hospital, the affidavit states.
An autopsy found the girl died from asphyxia caused by smothering, police wrote.
Court documents identify the girl by her initials, A.S. An obituary indicates her name is Arianna Stout.
Yadon and the girl's infant brother were the only other people in the home at the time of the incident, according to the affidavit.
When police arrested Yadon, they reported that during an interview she "admitted to smothering A.S. using a blanket on A.S.'s bed," police wrote, adding that Yadon demonstrated her actions to them using a child-size CPR mannequin.
"Mckenley stated she had been planning and thinking about doing this act for two or three days prior to March 14," the affidavit states.
Yadon allegedly told police she smothered the girl for 4-5 minutes, according to the affidavit, and only stopped when the child stopped struggling.
"Mckenley advised she waited 10 to 15 minutes after A.S.'s death to contact a friend who she provided an inaccurate account of events, thus resulting in the initial 911 call," police wrote.
Police say Utah stepmother smothered toddler
A Vernal woman has been arrested for investigation of aggravated murder in the March 14 death of a toddler, police confirmed Thursday.
www.deseretnews.com
Mckenley Stout
Mckenley Stout is on Facebook. Join Facebook to connect with Mckenley Stout and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected.
www.facebook.com
Last edited: