Staff file photo / Ed Runyan Laronda Mitchell, 38, of South Raccoon Road in Austintown, kept her head down in June when she was arraigned in Mahoning County Area Court in Austintown on involuntary manslaughter and other charges. To her right is her attorney, Mike Yacovone. At right is Mahoning County Assistant Prosecutor Shantell George.

AUSTINTOWN — The defense and prosecution agreed Wednesday that Laronda Mitchell is not competent to stand trial, so she will be taken to Heartland Behavioral Healthcare, a state mental hospital in Massillon, to attempt to restore her to competency to stand trial.

Mitchell, 39, of South Raccoon Road in Austintown, appeared before Judge Scott Hunter for a hearing, where her attorney, Mike Yacovone, and Assistant Mahoning County Prosecutor Shantell George stipulated to the findings of the Forensic Center of Northeast Ohio in Austintown that Mitchell is not competent to stand trial.

Stipulating to the findings means that no evidence has to be presented to the judge for him to make a determination on the matter.

Mitchell is also charged with felony child endangering, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse relating to the death of her 16-year-old daughter, whose body was discovered in Mitchell’s home April 26 after Austintown police went there for a welfare check.

Mitchell told police her daughter had been deceased for about a month in a “sealed” bedroom. Mitchell said the room was sealed to avoid odors escaping from the room.

A police report also mentioned that Mitchell has a son, 12, who Mitchell said “had to do something to (the 17-year-old) but Mitchell did know what.” It is not clear where the 12-year-old is.

At Mitchell’s arraignment in June, Yacovone told Hunter Yacovone had the opportunity to talk to Mitchell and that during their discussions he concluded that she needed to be evaluated for competency.

“I do not think she understands the nature of the charges against her,” Yacovone said.

He also thinks she cannot not assist in her defense. He said he chose against having her sign a waiver of preliminary hearing or have a preliminary hearing because of the issue.

Mahoning County Assistant Prosecutor Shantell George said prosecutors did not oppose having Mitchell evaluated for competency. George added that there are also some “additional forensic tests that need to come back before we can run a preliminary hearing.”

Mitchell was being held in jail in lieu of a $500,000 bond. If she were convicted of involuntary manslaughter, she could get about 11 years in prison.

An obituary published in mid-May for Donnamalay “Doll” Davis, 16, of Austintown, stated that Davis was the daughter of Laronda Mitchell and DeWayne Davis and sister to several siblings.

“She brought joy, laughter, and light to everyone who knew her,” the obituary states. “Donnamalay was a loving daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend.”

It added that “Donnamalay’s journey, however painful in its conclusion, is embraced in the lasting love she inspired. Although her life was brief, it was replete with laughter, liberating days and the kind of hope that makes the world shine just a little bit brighter.”