Mother’s ex-fiancé is indicted in girl’s death
A Harris County grand jury has indicted the ex-fiancé of Maleah Davis’ mother in the death of the 4-year-old girl, according to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors had already charged the 27-year-old man, Derion Vence, with the same offense on May 11. He is being held in the Harris County jail on a charge of tampering with evidence, namely a human corpse.
“Our work continues to seek justice for Maleah,” District Attorney Kim Ogg said Thursday.
Any additional charges would be determined after reviewing the final autopsy report in Maleah’s death, Ogg said. Vence’s attorney, Dorian Cotlar, declined to comment.
Vence reported Maleah missing on May 4, telling police a story about a roadside assault that ended in an abduction. He was driving to Bush Intercontinental Airport to pick up Maleah’s mother when he said he pulled over to change a tire. He was assaulted and regained consciousness hours later to find out that Maleah was gone, according to his report.
Maleah’s disappearance sparked a citywide search, and after a week, Vence’s story began to unravel. Investigators found blood matching Maleah’s in her family’s Houston apartment, as well as evidence that someone tried to clean it up, according to court documents.
Surveillance footage showed Vence leaving the apartment with a heavy laundry basket and cleaning supplies on May 3.
Vence was charged on May 11, and apparently told activist Quanell X in a jailhouse confession that he had dumped Maleah’s body on the side of the road in Arkansas.
Her remains were found in Hope, Ark. on May 31.