An arrest has been made in the suspicious death of a 3-year-old Vernal girl loved and missed by many. According to the Vernal Police Department, 24-year-old Vernal resident Mckenley Yadon (also known as Mckenley Stout) was arrested and booked into the Uintah County Jail on Thursday, May 23rd, for First Degree Felony Aggravated Murder and Second Degree Felony Child Abuse. This arrest was the result of an investigation which began with the suspicious death of a 3-year-old child on March 14th 2019, reports Vernal PD. The Affidavit of Probable Cause filed in 8th District Court paints a chilling account of the events that resulted in the death of Yadon’s step-daughter. The responding officer noted markings and bruising on the child not consistent with the claims in the 911 call and investigation that day revealed that the only occupants in the home at the time of death was the 3-year-old victim, her step-mother Mckenley Yadon, and her infant brother. A search warrant was granted and evidence was taken from the home. An autopsy of the girl was performed at the Utah Medical Examiner’s Office on March 15th and the results were provided to investigators on May 23rd. According to the Probable Cause statement, the findings of the autopsy showed the manner of death to be homicide and the cause of death to be asphyxia due to smothering. Mckenley Yadon was located and arrested on May 23rd and, post Miranda warning, Yadon admitted while in the Detective’s vehicle to causing the death of her 3-year-old step-daughter. Later, while being interviewed, she admitted again to smothering the child, providing a detailed account. According to the PC statement, she also said she had been planning and thinking about the act for two or three days leading up to the event. Yadon was transported and booked into Uintah County Jail and is being held without bail. A formal press conference will be held at the Vernal Police Department
on Sunday, May 26th, at 10 AM
.
