Four Milwaukee Hotel Employees Charged with Felony Murder over D’Vontaye Mitchell’s Death
Milwaukee, Wisconsin – A Fatal Incident
In a recent harrowing event, a group of four hotel employees in Milwaukee have been officially charged with being party to felony murder over the death of D’Vontaye Mitchell. As a Black man, Mitchell’s untimely and controversial death has stirred national conversations reminiscent of the 2020 murder of George Floyd.
The Accused
The individuals charged over this grievous incident include hotel security guard Todd Erickson, front desk worker Devin Johnson-Carson, bellhop Herbert Williamson, and security guard Brandon Turner. The penalty for their crimes, if convicted, could amount to a staggering sentence of up to 15 years and nine months in prison.
The Incident
According to the criminal complaint, Mitchell was forcibly removed from the Hyatt Hotel on June 30 after he entered a woman’s bathroom. Disturbingly, he was held down on his stomach by the four employees for a period of around eight to nine minutes; during this time, Mitchell was heard struggling for breath and pleading for help.
Investigation Findings
An autopsy later revealed that Mitchell had a history of morbid obesity and had consumed both cocaine and methamphetamine. The surveillance footage from the Hyatt Hotel depicts a visibly panicked Mitchell as he rushes into the hotel lobby and then into the gift shop ahead of his fatal encounter in the women’s bathroom.
Distressing Details
Upon leaving the bathroom, off-duty security guard Turner can be seen forcefully dragging Mitchell by his shirt into the lobby. Following a physical altercation resulting in Mitchell’s collapse, Turner and another unaffiliated bystander force Mitchell back out of the hotel. Subsequently, the three other employees joined Turner in restraining Mitchell on his stomach for an extended period of eight to nine minutes before the arrival of the police and emergency responders.
Dobe checking the video, Mitchell can be seen attempting to break free several times, and Erickson can be seen striking Mitchell with a baton before his final moments of stillness. A witness at the scene recorded a video in which Mitchell can be heard apologizing and moaning in pain.
A Fatal Outcome
The county medical expert later determined the cause of death to be “restraint asphyxia”. Had the employees allowed Mitchell to turn onto his side, he may have survived.
A Family’s Quest For Justice
Mitchell’s family and their lawyers, after reviewing the hotel surveillance video and further audios from witnesses, cried foul over the incident leading to a call for justice. One of the attorneys representing Mitchell’s family appreciated the charges as “a significant step towards justice for the family of D’Vontaye Mitchell”.
A Widow’s Plea
DeAsia Harmon, Mitchell’s widow, expressed relief over the decision but questioned the delayed action. In her grief, she stated, “These people are on camera taking my husband’s life. They should have been charged the moment they did that.”
Hotel Response
The company that manages the hotel, Aimbridge Hospitality, announced that the employees involved in the incident have been terminated. Reinforcing their cooperation with law enforcement, they vowed to support the prosecutors throughout the process and extended their condolences to Mr. Mitchell’s family.
