The body of the 17-year-old stepdaughter of a Texas doctor accused of running a mill pill was found floating in a Dallas creek on Sunday, police say.
Mikayla Mitchell died of “homicidal violence,” the Dallas Police Department said in a press release. Her body was found July 16 and she was identified on Tuesday, July 18. No arrests have been made.
Mitchell, who goes by Mikayla Owen on Facebook, is the daughter of Jennifer Diamond, whose husband, Dr. Gregg Diamond, was arrested on federal drug charges earlier this month after he was indicted in the Eastern District of Texas, court documents show.
Diamond, who runs pain management practices in Sherman and Paris, is accused of conspiring with others to write prescriptions for painkillers without a legitimate medical reason, prosecutors said in court documents seen by Heavy. His actions have been connected to at least seven overdose deaths in Texas and Oklahoma, according to federal authorities.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Mitchell’s Body Was Found Floating in a Creek by a Passerby & Her Death Is Being Investigated as a Homicide
Mikayla Mitchell.
Mikayla Mitchell’s body was found in a creek at Blair Park, 3200 Rochester Street, on Sunday, July 16 about 11:40 a.m., Dallas Police said in a statement. A passerby saw her body floating in the water and called police, according to the press release.
She was identified on Tuesday and police said she died of “homicidal violence.”
Mikayla Mitchell.
Police have not released any other details about her death.
No arrests have been made and police have not said if there are any suspects. It is not clear exactly when Mikayla died. A cause of death has not yet been released.
2. She Went to Sherman High School Until May 2016
Mikayla Mitchell.
Mitchell went to Sherman High School until May 2016, when she withdrew from the school district, the Sherman Independent School District told the Sherman Denison Herald Democrat newspaper. Mitchell had had been in the school district since kindergarten.
“We are saddened by the loss of any member of the Bearcat family,” Sherman ISD spokeswoman Emily Parks said in a statement to KTEN-TV. “Our thoughts, prayers, and support are with Mikayla’s family during this difficult time.”
She lived in Sherman with her mother, Jennifer Diamond, and stepfather, Dr. Gregg Diamond, according to police.
Mikayla wrote on Facebook on June 2, quoting an unknown source, “There are some things that God will allow to happen that you will not always understand. It is at those times when God simply wants you to trust Him…NOT your ability to understand.”
In a post on July 13, three days before her body was found, she wrote on Facebook, “Everybody tripping for no reason I’m good now. Life a game n I’m in this shit to win it. I’ll hit y’all up when everyone get off my ass.”
3. Her Cousin Says She Will Be ‘Missed Dearly’ Every Single Day
FacebookMikayla Mitchell with her mother, Jennifer Diamond.
Mikayla’s cousin, Jessica, wrote on Facebook that she will be “missed dearly, asking for people to keep their family in their thoughts and prayers.
“She will be missed every single day,” Jessica Owen wrote. “We all take each other for granted, hold all your loved ones close because you don’t know what’s really going on with them.”
Mikayla’s mother, Jennifer Diamond, changed her profile picture to a photo with her daughter. Diamond hasn’t commented about her daughter’s death.
Mikayla Mitchell.
Several friends shared memories about Mikayla on Facebook after news of her death spread, with many using the hashtag #JusticeforMikayla.
One friend, Khani Calhoun, wrote:
hey mikayla i know you’re probably pissed at me but i want you to know you were the coolest girl friend i could have. i loved you so much and i couldn’t keep anything from you without you noticing. always bumping gucci mane in the car, the parties, ANYWHERE we were it was all about GUCCI. i second guessed our friendship because we were both so lost in life we couldn’t even make the right decisions for ourselves. but i shouldn’t have. i loved you the day i met you. i can’t imagine the things you’ve been through. Such a strong and independent girl people would be so surprised. i could’ve made it a long way with you. i could’ve made us both better. i could’ve came and got you and i’m so fu*king sorry. just please know i always loved you and i forever will
Another friend, Paysha Loree Cash, wrote a tribute to Mitchell:
Mikayla Owen you was a wild one. Got along w everybody..
I’ll miss your persistence on getting what you need to get done, done.
I’ll miss your loud mouth when it’s dead silent.
I’ll miss you always bummin off people.
I’ll miss you at parties.
I’ll miss you livin w me.
I’ll miss you and the matching pink boots we met in when we was 2 years old.
I’ll miss us always dying and frying our hair.
I’ll miss how pumped you always where.
I’ll miss your laugh.
I’ll miss how you always bragged about your butt.
I’ll miss how spontaneous you were.
I’ll miss how you never judged anyone.
I’ll miss all the good and bad times we’ve had.
I’ll miss, you.
Delia Gott wrote, “Beautiful soul .. beautiful girl .. murdered… what has this world came to .. my baby didn’t deserve this.”
“Mikayla Owen you were the sweetest and coolest girl i met. We would always have so much fun on the bus on the way home. You would never let anyone bully me on there. I wish we would have talked more than we did Prayers for the family right now,” wrote Caycee McBride.
Taylor Hope wrote, “RIP Mikayla Owen. I used to see you in the hallways and always thought you were so nice and gorgeous. I remember playing in band together in Piner and you were so fun to be around. Fly high girly and I hope who ever did this to you gets their karma.”
4. A Reward of $5,000 Is Being Offered for Information Leading to an Arrest & Indictment
Mikayla Mitchell.
Dallas Police detectives are continuing to investigate Mikayla Mitchell’s death, and a reward has been offered for information.
“Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information called into Crime Stoppers that leads to the arrest and indictment for this felony offense,” police said in a press release.
Tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at 214-373-TIPS. Information can also be provided directly to Detective Steven David, police said.
Mikayla Mitchell
“Anyone with information regarding this crime is encouraged to contact Detective David at 214-671-3627 or steven.david@dpd.dallascityhall.com This offense is documented on case number 161562-2017,” police said.
An autopsy to determine the cause of death has not yet been completed or information about the results have not been released.
5. Diamond’s Attorney Says There Is No Connection Between His Client’s Case & His Stepdaughter’s Death
Dr. Gregg Diamond, pictured left in his mugshot, and with his wife, Jennifer Diamond, Mikayla’s mother.
Dr. Gregg Diamond’s attorney, said on Twitter that there is no connection between his client’s federal drug case and his stepdaughter’s death.
“Media is ruthless. There is no connection between my client Dr. Diamonds’ charges & his step-daughters death,” the attorney, Pete Schulte, said. “Client & family devastated.”
Media is ruthless. There is no connection between my client Dr. Diamonds’ charges & his step-daughters death. Client & family devastated
Schulte and Diamond were in court on Wednesday in an effort to have Diamond released from custody. His attorney said he hopes to have him released so he can be with his family as they grieve for Mikayla.
Diamond has been held in federal custody after prosecutors argued he was a flight risk. Prosecutors said they found two passports, two passport applications, marijuana and a gun when Diamond was taken into custody, KXII-TV reports. They also argued that Diamond would continue to write prescriptions if he was released, though Schulte has said his client is willing to surrender his medical license and the ID number used to write scripts.
“We’re looking forward to trial to show he hasn’t done anything wrong,” Schulte told the news station.
The judge in Diamond’s case did not make a decision on whether to release him, KXII-TV reported.
Prosecutors say DEA investigators have tied Diamond to at least seven overdoses and are investigating his possible connection to at least 15 others. Only one doctor in Texas prescribed more hydrocodone than Diamond, the DEA investigator said. He is accused of also writing prescriptions for oxymorphine, methadone, fentanyl, morphine, oxycodone, alprazolam and zolpidem without legitimate medical reasons.
Diamond is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, health care fraud and aiding and abetting money laundering. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.