REMEMBERING QUINTON

Quinton Tyrone Yates was born on June 4, 2009, in Miami, Oklahoma. He was surrounded by a large family. Quinton had two brothers, Dylan James and Alexander Garcia, and a sister, Felesha Yates. His obituary also remembered grandparents, a great grandmother, an aunt and several uncles who were part of his family. Quinton was still at the very beginning of his life. At one year old, he should have had an entire childhood ahead of him. There should have been birthdays, school days, friendships and years for his family to discover the person he would become. Instead, Quinton's life ended on February 10, 2011. He was only one year old.

QUINTON'S STORY

On the afternoon of February 10, 2011, Quinton was at his home near Miami, Oklahoma. His mother called 911 after finding her little boy unresponsive. Quinton was rushed to a hospital, but he could not be saved. He was pronounced dead that day. Authorities quickly began investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation arrested Quinton's father, D.J. Yates, that same day. He was charged with first degree murder in the death of his one year old son. Quinton had lived for just over a year and a half. A little boy who should have been safe in his own home was gone.

JUSTICE FOR QUINTON

D.J. Yates was arrested on February 10, 2011, the same day Quinton died. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation announced that he had been arrested for first degree murder in connection with his son's death. The case ultimately ended without a trial. D.J. Yates pleaded guilty to first degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. As of 2025, he remained incarcerated in Oklahoma serving that sentence. A more recent report concerning efforts to seek commutation of his sentence confirms that his sentence remains life without parole.

D.J. Yates

Relationship to Quinton: Father

Conviction: First degree murder Sentence: Life in prison without the possibility of parole

FOREVER REMEMBERED

Quinton's funeral was held on February 14, 2011, at the Seneca Cayuga AOA Building near Grove, Oklahoma. American Indian rites were conducted for him, and Quinton was laid to rest at Basset Grove Cemetery. The obituary left behind for Quinton gives us something especially important. It gives us his full name. It gives us the day he was born. And it gives us the names of the many people who made up his family. Those details remind us that Quinton was not simply the child at the center of a criminal case. He was Quinton Tyrone Yates. He was a son. He was a brother.He was a grandson and great grandson. He was a nephew. And he belonged to a family that gathered to say goodbye to him when he should have been growing up among them. Quinton deserved more than the short life he was given. He deserved birthdays beyond his first. He deserved to grow alongside his brothers and sister. He deserved years to create memories of his own. Abuse Angels remembers Quinton Tyrone Yates, a little boy whose life ended far too soon and whose name deserves to be remembered for more than the way he died.

We remember Quinton. We speak his name. And Quinton Yates will not be forgotten.