According to recent reports, a 27-year-old mother, later identified as Yemissi, has been convicted for the murder of her 13-month-old son. The jury’s decision brings closure to a case that has shocked and saddened the community, highlighting a grave act of violence within the very walls meant to offer safety and love.
The incident that led to Yemissi’s conviction unfolded on the morning of August 31, 2023, when officers responded to an emergency call at a residence. Upon entering the property, they found an infant, referred to as “DK” in court documents, unresponsive in an upstairs bedroom, surrounded by opened bottles of bleach and cleaning chemicals. Responding officers also “detected the strong odor of bleach” and other chemical cleaning agents and noted that the bedroom carpet surrounding DK’s body was wet, as was the floor of the bathroom connected to the bedroom.
Despite the efforts of emergency medical personnel, the young boy was pronounced dead at the scene, a victim of what was later revealed to be a deliberate act of murder by his own mother. Yemissi was identified as the victim’s mother and was taken to police station to speak with the detectives. When speaking to detectives, Yemissi revealed a horrifying sequence of events leading up to DK’s death.
Yemissi admitted to pouring bleach or another cleaning substance over her son’s face with the intent to kill him. When the chemical did not produce the immediate effect she expected, Yemissi resorted to manually suffocating her child, covering his nose and mouth until he stopped breathing. The motive behind such an act remains a dark mystery, leaving more questions than answers in its wake. The jury found Yemissi guilty on charges of first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. The conviction for first-degree murder in the state mandates a life sentence without the possibility of parole, ensuring that Yemissi will spend her remaining years behind bars. Her sentencing is set for April 26.
