In a quiet Saginaw Township neighborhood, a tragedy unfolded that cut short the life of 49-year-old Shantina Davenport-Mitchell. On September 29, 2021, she was found deceased in her home on Lamplighter Drive. Concerns arose when she did not show up for work, prompting a welfare check by police. Upon their arrival, they made the grim discovery.
Investigators found Davenport-Mitchell in a chair, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds and stab injuries. The scene was marked by shell casings scattered on the floor. Her small dog was found protectively running around. The investigation quickly turned its focus to her husband, Lonnie Mitchell Jr., who was identified as a person of interest.
The couple was known to have a troubled marriage. Just days before her death, Davenport-Mitchell had confided in Mitchell's daughter, Dasia Parker, that he had not been himself lately and that she did not want him back in their house. Parker also mentioned that her father was on medication to manage his mental health.
Following the discovery of his wife's body, Lonnie Mitchell Jr. was located and apprehended in Flint. He was taken into custody without incident. After being interviewed by detectives, he was arrested and lodged in the Saginaw County Jail. In October 2023, Lonnie Mitchell Jr. pleaded no contest to second-degree murder. This plea was part of an agreement to avoid a conviction for first-degree murder. Court documents revealed the brutal nature of the crime, stating that Shantina had been shot eight times and stabbed twice. Following his plea, it was indicated that he would be sentenced to a term estimated at 22.5 years in prison.
