The family of D’Vontaye Mitchell, who died on June 30 after he was pinned down by four hotel workers outside a Hyatt Regency in Milwaukee, reached a settlement with the hotel on Monday after the workers, whose actions were seen in security video, were charged in his death.
Family attorneys Ben Crump, Will Sulton and B’Ivory Lamarr said in a joint statement on Monday that the Mitchell family’s legal team “entered good faith conversations” with Hyatt “with the goal of helping to achieve resolution for the family of D’Vontaye Mitchell.”
“We are pleased to share that we have reached an amicable settlement,” they added. “The terms of an agreement will be confidential. The parties are pleased that they were able to resolve this matter outside of court and will have no further comment about the settlement.”
A spokesperson for Aimbridge Hospitality – the hotel management firm that manages the Hyatt in Milwaukee – confirmed the settlement to ABC News in a statement on Monday.
“The settlement announced today is a result of the good faith discussions with the representatives of the family of D’Vontaye Mitchell with the goal of bringing the family some comfort as they mourn this tragic loss,” the statement said.
The announcement of the settlement comes after a court official in Milwaukee on Monday denied motions to dismiss charges of felony murder filed against four hotel workers in connection to Mitchell’s death.
The attorneys for the four hotel workers – security guard Todd Alan Erickson, front desk agent Devin W. Johnson-Carson, bellman Herbert T. Williamson, and Brandon Ladaniel Turner, a security guard who was off-duty during the incident – argued during a preliminary hearing on Monday that there was no probable cause for felony murder and asked for the charges to be dismissed.
Milwaukee County Court Commissioner Rosa Barillas ordered the four men to stand trial, saying, “I am going to find that the state has met their burden, find that there is probable cause to believe that there a felony was committed by Mr. Erickson, Mr. Carson, Mr. Turner and Mr. Williamson, and they are all bound over for trial to the Circuit Court.”
ABC News reached out to each of the attorneys representing the four defendants but requests for comment were not immediately returned.
According to court records reviewed by ABC News, the defendants have not yet entered pleas in this case and are scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.
The Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office announced on Aug. 6 that it filed a felony murder charge against each of the four individuals related to Mitchell’s death on June 30 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Milwaukee.
“These charges are based on an extensive review of the evidence collected by the Milwaukee Police Department, the autopsy conducted and the report produced by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office, and information received from members of the community,” the Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
The Milwaukee County medical examiner ruled Mitchell’s death was a homicide, the result of restraint asphyxia and toxic effects of cocaine and methamphetamine.
ABC News’ Sabina Ghebremedhin contributed to this report.
The family of D’Vontaye Mitchell, a young man who tragically lost his life in a hotel earlier this year, has reached a settlement with the hotel as workers are charged with his murder. This case has sparked outrage and raised questions about safety and accountability in the hospitality industry.
D’Vontaye Mitchell, a 25-year-old man from Detroit, was staying at a hotel in downtown Chicago when he was found dead in his room. The initial reports suggested that he had died from a drug overdose, but further investigation revealed that he had actually been murdered by two hotel workers.
The workers, who have been identified as employees of the hotel, were arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Mitchell’s death. The details of the case are still emerging, but it appears that the workers had entered Mitchell’s room with the intention of robbing him and things escalated to violence.
The tragic death of D’Vontaye Mitchell has had a profound impact on his family, who have been seeking justice for his untimely passing. After months of negotiations, the family has reached a settlement with the hotel, which includes financial compensation and changes to their security protocols to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
This case has raised important questions about safety and accountability in the hospitality industry. Hotels are supposed to be places of refuge and relaxation for guests, but incidents like this highlight the potential dangers that can arise when proper security measures are not in place.
It is crucial for hotels to prioritize the safety and well-being of their guests by implementing strict security protocols, conducting thorough background checks on employees, and providing training on how to handle potentially dangerous situations. By taking these proactive measures, hotels can help prevent tragedies like the one that befell D’Vontaye Mitchell from happening again.
As the legal proceedings continue against the workers charged with Mitchell’s murder, his family is left to grieve and seek closure. The settlement reached with the hotel is a small step towards justice, but it cannot undo the pain and loss that they have experienced.
In the wake of this tragedy, it is important for the hospitality industry as a whole to reevaluate their safety practices and ensure that they are doing everything possible to protect their guests. No family should have to endure the heartbreak that the family of D’Vontaye Mitchell has experienced, and it is up to hotels to take responsibility for the safety and security of their guests.
