Yesterday (Aug 11), Circuit Judge Samuel Bookhardt III ordered Lakeisha MITCHELL (42), returned to custody at the Brevard County Jail after prosecutors successfully argued that she had violated the conditions of her pretrial release granted on December 8, 2021. MITCHELL is facing a First Degree Felony Murder charge in connection to the death of a foster child in her care Joy King-Castro (4), on August 23, 2021.

 

In the day long hearing prosecutors presented witnesses and evidence showing that MITCHELL violated the 24-hour curfew by traveling to locations that are not work, church, medical, or essential activities permitted under Judge Bookhardt's Pretrial Release Order. Those included more than 40 incidents between December 16, 2021, and June 17, 2022, where her electronic monitoring device placed her at restaurants, retail stores, shopping centers, and private residences in Brevard County and as far away as Orlando.

 

In addition, Mitchell had more than one hundred contacts through messages, phone calls and video visits with inmates charged with crimes including Murder, Manslaughter, Grand Theft, Drug Trafficking, Dealing in Stolen Property, and others. 

 

MITCHELL also obtained employment as a security guard assigned to screen visitors to the Titusville Courthouse. When recognized by employees and confronted by BCSO deputies, MITCHELL provided a false date of birth and was evasive about her pending criminal case.

 

MITCHELL will remain in custody on no bond while awaiting trial. The case is currently set for Docket Review on November 30, 2022.