Channel Yonko was sentenced to life without parole this week after jurors rejected her insanity defense in the October 2024 killing of her infant daughter, Hannah
NEED TO KNOW
- Channel Yonko was convicted of capital murder in the death of her 17-month-old daughter Hannah Yonko in Galveston, Texas
- Prosecutors said the Houston mother stabbed the toddler and threw her from a hotel balcony in October 2024
- Because the victim was younger than 10, the conviction carries an automatic sentence of life without parole under Texas law
A Houston mother has been convicted of capital murder for fatally stabbing her 17-month-old daughter and throwing her from a hotel balcony.
Channel Yonko was found guilty Friday in the death of her daughter, Hannah Yonko, according to KHOU, KTRK and Houston Public Media. Prosecutors say the killing happened in October 2024 when Yonko threw the toddler from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Galveston, per the outlets.
“I’m not a crier, but the first time I went through the evidence it got me tearing up,” Assistant District Attorney Michael Rinehart said, per KHOU. “It was definitely an emotional case.”…