Bowling Green Court Sentences Two in Lassiter Homicide
A Warren Circuit Court judge sentenced two individuals for their roles in the 2023 death of 24-year-old Malik Lassiter.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Criminal Justice
A Warren Circuit Court judge sentenced Mayonna Jean Anthony to 15 years and Daivon Thompson to 25 years for the 2023 homicide of Malik Lassiter. Lassiter was killed near his Russellville Road apartment, and his body was not recovered for 13 months.
Why it matters
The case highlights the use of digital forensics in solving cold cases, as investigators tracked the suspects using cell phone tower data. The discovery of Lassiter's vehicle in Columbus, Ohio, provided critical physical evidence that linked the suspects to the crime.
Mayonna Jean Anthony pleaded guilty to facilitation of first-degree manslaughter and two counts of tampering with physical evidence, receiving a 15-year sentence. Daivon Thompson received a 25-year sentence after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter and tampering with physical evidence.
The players
Mayonna Jean Anthony
The 22-year-old was sentenced to 15 years in prison for her role in the facilitation of manslaughter.
Daivon Thompson
He received a 25-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter.
Malik Lassiter
The 24-year-old victim was fatally shot near his Russellville Road apartment.
Warren Circuit Court
This is the local judicial body responsible for presiding over the sentencing of the defendants.
The details
Anthony provided information that enabled Thompson to locate Lassiter near his Russellville Road apartment on May 11, 2023. Detectives successfully tracked the pair through cell tower data and recovered forensic evidence, including a fingerprint and hair, from a vehicle found in Columbus, Ohio.
Timeline
May 10-11, 2023: Malik Lassiter was last seen and fatally shot.
June 2024: Lassiter's body was discovered 13 months after the shooting.
May 2026: Anthony and Thompson entered into plea agreements.
October 26, 2026: The court held a sentencing hearing and issued prison terms.
Legal Context
The case follows the established investigative pattern of using historical cell phone tower triangulation to map the movements of suspects across state lines. Such digital evidence has increasingly become a cornerstone in local homicide prosecutions when physical witness accounts are absent.
This case confirms the successful resolution of a homicide investigation that kept the Russellville Road neighborhood and the broader city on edge for over a year. Residents can view this as a closure to a major local investigation involving the use of advanced digital tracking by local police.
The takeaway
Digital footprints often serve as the most reliable evidence in cold cases involving missing persons. Residents are reminded that forensic data from personal devices and vehicles plays a critical role in the modern justice process.
Further reading
For more information on local legal proceedings, visit the Criminal Justice section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bowling Green Daily News.
