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Utah woman admits to smothering her 3-year-old stepdaughter, police say

A Vernal woman who allegedly smothered her 3-year-old stepdaughter to death has been arrested.

McKenley Jordan Yadon, 24, was booked into the Uintah County Jail on Thursday for investigation of aggravated murder, a first-degree felony; and child abuse, a second-degree felony.

According to Vernal City Police, they responded to a report of a choking child at 1536 W. 300 South on March 14 and discovered the 3-year-old was not breathing, cold to the touch and had “dark purple and black bruising in front, on top, inside and around her left ear.” An autopsy later ruled the child’s cause of death was homicide; she died of “asphyxia due to smothering.