A missing 4-year-old Houston girl and her 2 brothers were recently returned home after spending six months in the custody of Child Protective Services, according to published reports. Maleah Davis has been missing since Friday night, when her stepfather, Derion Vence, told police 3 men abducted the girl.
According to ABC7 News, Maleah and her brothers, ages 5 and 1, were removed from their home in August as the agency investigated allegations of physical abuse related to the girl’s head injury.
The three siblings were returned to their home in February.
Vence told police three Hispanic males abducted Maleah after knocking him out cold and leaving him and his 1-year-old son, Courtland, by the side of a highway late Friday. He said he woke up nearly 24 hours later. His son was with him, but Maleah and the 3 men were gone. Police say there is a large gap in Vence’s timeline.
In an exclusive interview with ABC13’s Stefania Okolie, Maleah’s mother, Brittany Bowens, said Maleah suffered a head injury during a fall. The girl required several brain surgeries.
“I’m terrified for Maleah,” Bowens told Okolie. “My spirit is so broken, I feel so lost. I can’t concentrate, I can’t focus. It’s so overwhelming for me. It doesn’t seem real.”
Volunteers with Texas EquuSearch assisted the Houston police in their search for Maleah. They searched a field near Highway 59 and Greens road and a wooded area near the airport.
“We want to start checking every single dumpster just in case,” said Texas EquuSearch’s Tim Miller. “We believe in miracles. Let’s hope we get one.”
Anyone with information on Maleah Davis’ whereabouts is urged to contact HPD at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
