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HOUSTON — Darion Vence, the prime suspect in the disappearance of 4-year-old Maleah Davis, spent the weekend in the Harris County Jail. He was arrested on Saturday by members of the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force at a friends home in Sugar Land, and is charged with evidence tampering.
The charges emerged after Maleah's mother, Brittany Bowens, appeared at a press conference with community activist Quanell X on Friday, and alleged that her daughter had been abused by Vence, who was her ex-fiance.
During the press conference, Quanell X and Bowens released a surveillance photo of Vence leaving the apartment he and Bowens shared carrying a laundry basket with a plastic trash bag and a bottle of bleach
Meanwhile, investigators revealed that Bowens had allowed them to search the couple's apartment, where they found blood evidence that matched Maleah Davis' DNA found on her toothbrush.
Vence told police on May 4 that he was on his way to George Bush Intercontinental Airport when he heard a sound that made him think his silver Nissan Altima had a flat tire.
He told police that he pulled over on the Eastex Freeway near Greens Road. Vence told police that he was assaulted and that he, his 2-year-old son, and Maleah were then taken by three Hispanic males in their 30s, driving a 2010 blue Chevrolet crew cab pickup truck.
Vence claimed he suffered during the abduction, he reportedly lost consciousness for about 24 hours until about 6 p.m . the next day. He allegedly walked to Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital for treatment, and reported Maleah missing and his car stolen.
Although Vence reported his silver Nissan Altima was taken in the abduction, surveillance video showed someone in that Nissan Altima dropped Vence off at the Methodist Sugar Land Hospital on May 5.
On May 8, Vence’s silver Nissan Altima was recovered at a strip center in nearby Missouri City. Police found the laundry basket in the trunk, along with a gas can.
Police brought in cadaver dogs to search Vence's car and alerted to the presence of decomposition in the truck, police said. The car was towed to the crime lab where forensic investigators examined the car, officials said.
A judge set Vence's bond at nearly a $1 million on Saturday, but the bond was reduced to $45,000 on Monday, officials said.
Anyone with information on this case, the whereabouts of Maleah Davis, or who knows who sold the gas can to Vence is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
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