MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office has officially ruled the death of D’Vontaye Mitchell, who died outside the Hyatt Regency hotel in June, as a homicide. The determination was made public on Friday, following the release of the final cause of death and autopsy results.
Attorney William Sulton, who represents Mitchell’s widow and daughter, disclosed new surveillance footage from the hotel obtained through a subpoena. The footage includes several disturbing scenes. One clip shows Mitchell being dragged outside by a hotel staff member and a guest, with the situation escalating as another hotel employee strikes Mitchell. Moments later, Mitchell is further assaulted by another employee before being dragged outside.
Additional footage reveals Mitchell being restrained by four hotel employees on the ground until police arrived. By the time law enforcement officers reached the scene, Mitchell was unresponsive. Another video captured Mitchell running through the hotel lobby and entering a women’s restroom before being forcibly removed by an employee.
The medical examiner’s report cites “restraint asphyxia and toxic effects of cocaine and methamphetamine” as the causes of Mitchell’s death. It highlights that Mitchell was restrained in a prone position by multiple individuals after using drugs.
Deasia Harmon, Mitchell’s widow, expressed her frustration, stating, “If he was wrong he could’ve gone to jail, I would’ve felt so much better about that. Not this. It’s not fair.”
The Milwaukee Police Department has referred felony murder charges against the four individuals who restrained Mitchell to the district attorney’s office for review. Sulton is also advocating for accountability for other individuals seen in the footage and is calling for the Hyatt Regency to provide compensation to Mitchell’s family.
“We are just fighting for basic, simple justice here,” Sulton said. “A man beaten to death on a sidewalk – yeah – charges should be issued.”