A Houston man was convicted by a jury in the murder of his 2-year-old baby girl. Authorities say the horrifying scene unfolded within 45 minutes and featured a heartbreaking witness.
Back in March of 2023, prosecutors say Deontray Flanagan was chased down by deputies after he refused to pull over for a traffic stop. In the passenger seat was baby Zevaya, who Flanagan had captured from daycare, per the Houston Chronicle. Authorities said the baby wasn’t in a car seat nor secured in a seat with a seatbelt. As a result, the child was tossed around the vehicle as he swerved through lanes and hit multiple vehicles on the way.
Court records say it might have been a revenge plot because he believed the child’s mother, Kairsten Watson, was pursuing a new relationship after their breakup. During the chase, prosecutors say Flanagan was on FaceTime with Watson as she pleaded with him to stop hurting their child. Prosecutors said the baby was beaten and strangled as her mother watched in horror.
“He’s killed her, he’s killing her,” the woman said, per prosecutors.
Watson wasn’t the only witness. Zevaya’s grandfather told KHOU he tried to reason with Flanagan on the phone as well. However, the pleading did no good.
“But then he showed me the lifeless corpse of my granddaughter,” said Curtis Watson to reporters. “I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. To have to go through that type of anguish and pain.”
The 30-mile chase ended in a standoff with the SWAT team where Flanagan was arrested, per the Houston Chronicle. However, the child was airlifted to the hospital where she died. Defense attorneys argued the injuries were a result of her lack of security in the vehicle during the chase, per the report.
However, a jury didn’t buy that and found Flanagan guilty of capital murder. He faces life in prison or possibly the death penalty, according to state law.