Remains in Arkansas may be of missing Texas girl
Investigators searching for a missing Texas 4-year-old have found the remains of a child in Arkansas.
The remains found Friday have not yet been confirmed to be Maleah Davis, who was reported missing more than three weeks ago. Homicide investigators are bringing the remains to Houston for an autopsy to determine identity and cause of death, police said.
“Do we believe that it’s possibly her? Yes. But can we confirm it right now? No,” Executive Assistant Police Chief Troy Finner said at a news conference Friday.
Authorities discovered the remains after getting a tip from local activist Quanell X, who said he spoke with Derion Vence, the ex-fiance of Maleah’s mother, Brittany Bowens, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said.
“I’m deeply saddened by what we’re hearing. No one can confirm at this moment whether or not the remains found in Arkansas are those of Maleah Davis,” Turner said. “But we do know that the remains are someone’s child.”
Quanell X said Vence, who was arrested May 11 in Maleah’s disappearance, told him he dumped the girl’s body in Arkansas off the side of a road. The activist declined to comment on what Vence told him regarding how Maleah had died. “One thing he wanted to make clear to me was what happened to Maleah was an accident,” he told KTRK.
Authorities in Arkansas began the search as Houston police traveled to assist them. Shortly after the search began, a highway work crew found a black garbage bag emitting a “foul odor” near Fulton, according to Hempstead County Sheriff James Singleton.
Vence told officers that he, Maleah and his 2-year-old son were abducted May 4 by a group of men in a truck. He said he and his son were freed the next day, but the kidnappers kept Maleah and his silver Nissan Altima.
Police said Vence’s story kept changing and didn’t add up.
Vence has been charged with tampering with evidence, specifically a human corpse.