A Radford mother was sentenced on Friday, November 14, 2025, in connection with the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Harper Mitchell. Amanda Mitchell, 32, received a sentence of 45 years, with 44 years and nine months suspended. She will serve 90 days in the Virginia Department of Corrections, followed by 39 years of active supervised probation.
Mitchell pleaded guilty to charges including child abuse, child cruelty, and drug possession. These charges stem from the tragic death of her daughter in 2020. Mitchell had initially been charged with murder, but the charge was later dismissed in court.
The case has been under the scrutiny of the Judge who has overseen the proceedings since the beginning. In court, the judge called Harper Mitchell an “angel” and expressed deep sorrow over the child’s untimely death. “She was a young girl who did not deserve what she went through that day,” the judge remarked, adding that he hopes Mitchell uses her time behind bars to reflect on the impact of her actions, particularly on Harper’s father’s side of the family, who must now face yet another holiday season without their beloved child, according to a report by Roanoke-based CBS WDBJ.
Before being sentenced, Mitchell testified in court, expressing her grief over Harper’s death. She told the court that she had forgiven herself for her role in the tragedy and spent the past five years working on becoming “the best person Harper would want her to be.”
Mitchell’s boyfriend, Andrew Byrd, was also involved in the case. In 2023, Byrd was found guilty of the murder of Harper Mitchell and sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison, according to report by The Roanoke Times.
Mitchell’s sentence marks a significant chapter in this tragic case, as the family and community continue to cope with the loss of young Harper. The sentencing brings some form of closure, but the pain of losing such a young life remains deeply felt by those who loved her.