Man Who Said 4-Year-Old Abducted Is Now Charged

Houston police charge Darion Vence after finding blood evidence of ex-fiance's missing daughter
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 12, 2019 5:28 AM CDT
Mom's Boyfriend Reported Girl Missing. Now He's Charged
Maleah Davis. Houston police are trying to determine what happened to the 4-year-old girl after her stepfather said she was taken by men who released him and his 2-year-old son after abducting them as well. An Amber Alert was issued Sunday morning, May 7, 2019, for Maleah Davis.   (Houston Police Department via AP)

The man who reported a 4-year-old Texas girl had been abducted from him last weekend was arrested near Houston on Saturday and police say they have found blood in his apartment linked to the girl. Darion Vence was arrested without incident, Houston police said. He was charged with tampering with evidence, reports the AP. Vence told police last Saturday that men in a pickup truck abducted him, 4-year-old Maleah Davis, and his 2-year-old son before freeing him and the boy. But Sugar Land police, who initially interviewed him, said his story kept changing and didn't add up. Houston police said Saturday that some details of his story turned out to be false. Vence reported his silver Nissan Altima was taken in the abduction but surveillance video showed the vehicle was used to drop Vence off later at a hospital, where he reported the abduction, police said.

"Blood evidence obtained from Vence's apartment has been linked to Maleah," the Houston police statement said. Vence also was observed carrying a full laundry basket from the apartment, police said. That basket was later found in the trunk of the Nissan along with a gas can. Maleah's mother, Brittany Bowens, said Vence is her former fiance. Bowens appeared outside her apartment Friday as Quanell X, a local civil rights activist, addressed reporters on her behalf. Quanell X said that Vence had abused Maleah and that Bowens believes Vence harmed the girl. Vence and Bowens were recently in a fight and she broke off their engagement, Quanell X said. Child Protective Services removed Maleah and her brothers from the home Vence and Bowens shared in August after the girl suffered a head wound, but the children were returned in February, according to an agency spokeswoman.

(More missing child stories.)

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