Nov. 2024. Blues Vol 40 No. 11

AROUND THE COUNTRY

AROUND THE COUNTRY GALVESTON, TX. A tragic event unfurled on Galveston Island last month when a monster of a mother threw her 17-month old daughter off a 3-floor hotel balcony. EDITOR: As first responders, we deal with death every day. We experience more tragic events in a week than most ordinary people do in a lifetime. But nothing can prepare you for the death of a child. The image of a lifeless small child is seared into your brain like nothing else. You have a hard time processing how anyone can do this to such a sweet innocent child. Last week in Galveston, a monster threw a 17-month-old child out of a 3rd story hotel. Why? Why did this happen. What could possibly make a mother do this. The first responders, the cops, the firemen, the paramedics, the hospital staff and the coroner’s office, are all in shock. Everyone involved, are having sleepless nights trying to wrap their heads around this unbelievable tragedy. Please pray for everyone involved in Galveston. GALVESTON, TX. – Galveston police have charged a 30-yearold mother with capital murder in connection to the death of a 17-month-old girl found critically wounded on 59th Street, authorities said. Channel Yonko of Houston, is charged with capital murder by police investigating her daughter’s death Wednesday morning, Police Chief Doug Balli said. Hannah Yonko died at an island hospital shortly after witnesses saw a bag being thrown from the third story of the Beachfront Palms Hotel, 5914 Seawall Blvd., police said. Galveston officers found the baby wrapped in a sheet and clinging to life in the road between Kroger, 5730 Seawall Blvd., and the hotel, Balli said. The girl appeared to have injuries associated with a “significant” fall, Balli said. A witness saw someone throw what looked like a trash bag from the third floor of the hotel, police said. Galveston firefighters and EMS personnel arrived and began treatment and transported the child to an island hospital, where authorities pronounced her dead shortly after, Balli said. “It’s tragic for everyone involved,” Balli said. “No first responder ever wants to respond to the scene where a child is so injured that they may not make it. My heart goes out to all those involved.” The baby had injuries that appeared to predate the fall, although authorities didn’t have an exact cause of death by Wednesday afternoon, Balli said. 40 The Blues - November ‘24

Such crimes are rare for Galveston, but we did see a string of heinous crimes committed against infants in a short time in 2007 and 2008, Balli said. Joshua Mauldin in May 2007 burned his 2-month-old daughter in a microwave in Galveston; a jury sentenced him to 25 years in prison the next year. About two months later, Galveston police found the body of Riley Ann Sawyers, 2, in the Galveston bay after her mother, Kimberly Dawn Trenor, killed her; a jury sentenced Trenor to life in prison. “We really haven’t had much since then,” Balli said. “It’s really rare that we have anything with an infant. Infants can’t do anything but be hungry, sleepy, and they depend on us to provide everything for them. “It’s just truly tragic when something like this happens.” Police encourage anyone in the area of the crime that may have video surveillance cameras to review any footage for information that may be beneficial to the investigation. Anyone who wants to report information to police detectives may call 409-765- 3777, spokesman Kurt Koopmann said in a statement. Yonko is being held without bond in the Galveston County jail, according to jail records. The Blues - November ‘24 41