Virginia Mother Given Just 90 Days After Waiting Hours to Call 911 While Toddler Was “Tortured” to Death by Boyfriend, Judge Says

RADFORD, VIRGINIA — A Virginia mother who admitted she waited hours to call 911 while her 2-year-old daughter lay dying from brutal injuries inflicted by her boyfriend has been sentenced to only 90 days in jail, a decision that has left many stunned and heartbroken. Prosecutors say the toddler, Harper Mitchell, endured horrifying abuse before her death — abuse the judge described as something “she did not deserve.”

Mother Admitted Delayed 911 Call After Child Was Beaten to Death

According to investigators, 35-year-old Amanda Brittani Mitchell pleaded guilty to child abuse, child cruelty, and drug possession after her daughter Harper was found with severe, fatal injuries on April 16, 2020.

Mitchell told investigators she waited over two hours to come home after learning Harper was hurt. When she arrived, she found her daughter bruised and unresponsive.

Authorities say Harper’s injuries were inflicted by Mitchell’s then-boyfriend, 39-year-old Andrew Byrd, who was allegedly using meth and became violently abusive while left alone with the child.

Court documents reveal Mitchell did not immediately seek help for her daughter, even after seeing the extent of her injuries.

Judge Calls Harper an “Angel,” Says Child Suffered Horrifically

At sentencing, Judge Joey Showalter delivered a powerful rebuke of the tragedy, saying Harper was a child “who did not deserve what she went through that day.”

Mitchell’s 45-year sentence was reduced dramatically when the court suspended 44 years and 9 months of it, leaving her with just 90 days to serve.

During the hearing, Harper’s mother expressed remorse, saying she had spent the past five years trying to become “the best person Harper would want her to be.”

Harper’s death, however, was described as one of the most brutal cases local officials had ever seen.

“This defendant tortured that poor little girl,” a prosecutor said earlier during Byrd’s separate sentencing.

Boyfriend Received Two Life Sentences After Evidence Showed Extreme Abuse

In October 2023, Byrd was sentenced to two life terms for murdering Harper. Evidence showed Harper suffered repeated blows, severe head injuries, and prolonged suffering.

Mitchell testified that Byrd prevented her from taking Harper to the hospital, at one point holding a gun to her head to stop her. Deputies confirmed Mitchell was also assaulted during the incident.

Harper was eventually taken to the hospital only after Byrd’s mother contacted authorities. Doctors found she had a faint pulse and a deep forehead mark. She died shortly after being placed on life support.

A detective testified that Byrd gave shifting explanations for Harper’s condition — claiming she fell off a four-wheeler, fell from a shopping cart, or had an allergic reaction — all contradicting medical evidence.

Family Says the Sentence Is Not Enough

Harper’s father, T.J. Mitchell, wept in court as he spoke about losing his daughter:

“I don’t have my little girl anymore.”

At Byrd’s sentencing, the judge described Harper as a little girl who “would be the first to forgive,” a statement meant to honor her memory rather than diminish the seriousness of the crime.

Mitchell originally faced more severe charges but ultimately avoided homicide counts in exchange for cooperation. Still, her 90-day punishment for delaying lifesaving help has sparked strong reactions from both the public and those close to Harper.

Stories like Harper’s serve as painful reminders of the need for vigilance, protection, and accountability in cases involving vulnerable children. For more in-depth community reporting and human-centered coverage, continue reading at ChicagoMusicGuide.com.