The remains of a child found last week in Arkansas are those of missing Houston 4-year-old Maleah Davis, the medical examiner confirms.
Her cause of death is still pending.
On Friday, law enforcement officials in Fulton, Arkansas, said a road crew found a black bag with a foul odor and inside were bones and blood.
Community activist Quanell X, who advocated for Maleah’s mother, Brittany Bowens, told reporters about the discovery. Hours earlier, Quanell told reporters that the suspect in the disappearance, Derion Vence, confessed that the girl died by accident and her body was dumped in Arkansas.
Late Friday, the remains arrived in Houston for further investigation.
Quanell said he met earlier in the day with Vence, who has been behind bars since May 11. Among the key details shared with reporters, Quanell said Maleah is dead as a result of an accident. He did not specify how she died.
“All I can say is he told me it was an accident, and that she is dead and where he dumped her body,” Quanell said.
Quanell met with reporters in a southwest Houston parking lot where he also met with Texas EquuSearch and detectives about what Vence told him.
Quanell withheld where he was told the body was dumped, only to say it was somewhere in Arkansas. He added that Vence was specific about the “distance and time” of the body’s location.
“He said he pulled over in Arkansas, got out of the car, walked off the side of the road, and dumped her body off the side of the road,” Quanell said.
Quanell also revealed that Maleah’s body was dumped there “early on,” possibly indicating it happened shortly after the girl was first reported missing. The time of her death was not indicated.
The Houston Police Department said in a statement Monday that while officers are saddened that the remains were Maleah’s, they are “heartened by the fact this sweet child can now receive the proper burial she deserved.”
HPD also vowed to continue working on the case to ensure justice is served.
“The Houston Police Department will continue to work diligently with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and other partners to ensure the person(s) responsible for her death, and the attempted cover-up of her death, are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” the statement continued.
Statement from Chief @ArtAcevedo regarding the identification of #MaleahDavis‘ remains. #HouNews pic.twitter.com/Brlan6WI8R
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) June 3, 2019
Vence is in jail, facing a charge of tampering with evidence, namely a corpse.
The Harris County District Attorney released a new statement Monday on his charge.
The defendant remains charged with tampering with a corpse. (A second degree felony punishable by up to 20 years.) Prosecutors continue their review and are working with Houston Police. Additional charges would be filed as the evidence supports doing so. We remain focused on finding the truth and delivering justice for Maleah.
