GALVESTON, Texas — Galveston homicide detectives returned to a hotel Thursday as they continued their investigation into the death of 17-month-old Hannah Yonko.
Channel Yonko, 30, of Houston, remains jailed without bond on capital murder charges in her daughter's death.
Court documents reveal heartbreaking new details about the final hours of the toddler found on 59th Street next to the Kroger on Seawall Boulevard Wednesday morning. When officers arrived, they found Hannah unresponsive and bleeding. She died at the hospital.
WARNING: The new details released are graphic.
According to the Galveston Police Department, Yonko intentionally threw her daughter from the third-floor balcony of the Beachfront Palms Hotel. Surveillance video from the Beachfront Palms Hotel captured the moment the baby could be seen falling.
Investigators say Hannah had injuries consistent with a fall and several puncture wounds in her back. A trash bag containing a knife and hotel room key were found nearby. The bag found in the hotel's parking garage also contained plastic sand toys, unused diapers, and unopened kids' snacks.
"This is a horrible crime. All children deserve to feel safe when around loved ones, especially with their own mother,” GPD Chief Doug Balli said. “The Galveston Police Department is committed to bringing justice for Hannah and ensuring the safety of all children in our community.”
Investigators said they interviewed the suspect’s sister at the police department. She told them that she, her sister and her niece were sharing a room at The Beachfront Palms Hotel.
The sister told investigators that Channel Yonko had come to Galveston to visit her. On Wednesday morning, they began checking out of the motel. The sister left to meet her fiancé at The Victorian Hotel and left her sister and niece at the Beachfront Palms Hotel.
The sister said Channel Yonko eventually showed up at The Victorian pushing a stroller. The sister told them she didn't see Hannah in the stroller, but had no reason to believe she was not in it.
The sister told Channel Yonko that she could not find her fiancé and that they should just go back to their hotel room to pick up their luggage. That is when Channel Yonko told her not to go back to their room.
Balli said witnesses and surveillance video led them to quickly identify Yonko as the suspect. She was arrested at a nearby restaurant.
We've learned Yonko has a history with the Department of Department of Family and Protective Services, which investigates child abuse and neglect cases. They couldn't release any details.
'We know this baby girl went to heaven, Lord'
Strangers gathered Wednesday night at a vigil for the pretty baby girl with the big brown eyes.
On Thursday, a memorial filled with stuffed animals, flowers and candles continued to grow near the scene where Hannah was found.
Michael and Katie Harris felt compelled to stop and pray for the child.
“We know this baby girl went to heaven, Lord," Michael said as the couple prayed. “We just want to pray over this child, Lord – and honestly praying for her mother."
They don't understand how an innocent child could die such a horrible death.
“I just can’t imagine – like, I don’t know man – just feel really sorry for the baby," Michael told us.
Neil Debran, of Texas City, also stopped to pay tribute to Hannah.
“At my age, I’ve seen things like this happen before, but for some reason, this one didn’t sit right with me," he said. "I figured I’d come down and pay my respects, you know?"
Pediatric nurse Jasmin Hernandez told us Hannah was on her mind all night at work.
“I see stories like this, cases like this all the time," she said.
The memorial was her first stop after clocking out.
“Put some flowers there and a little doll there just so she knows that we all love her," Hernandez said.
Another woman who stopped by appeared to be a family member, but she declined an interview.