Grief-stricken strangers stop by the Kirkwood Landing apartments in Houston to pay tribute to a little girl they never knew.
Apartment #1403 is empty now. Outside the door is a growing memorial of stuffed animals, balloons, and homemade signs left there by strangers who traveled dozens of miles to honor 4-year-old Maleah Davis.
Quanell X won’t be among the mourners stopping by the abandoned apartment where Maleah once lived with her mother, Brittany Bowens, and 2 brothers.
“I know what she went through, the torturous abuse. It’s too hard to go back there right now,” he told KHOU 11.
Maleah was reported missing on May 4 by her mother’s fiancé Derion Vence, who told police she was abducted the night before by three Hispanic males.
Police arrested Vence on May 11 and charged him with tampering with a human corpse.
In a jailhouse confession on Friday, Vence told Quanell he dumped the girl’s body in Arkansas after killing her accidentally in a fit of rage.
He was upset after Bowens called off their engagement when she found nudes he allegedly sent to a man on his cell phone.
Vence told Quanell he drove over state lines and dumped Maleah’s remains along the highway near Hope, Arkansas.
He may not have been alone. “I do believe one other person knew,” Quanell X said. In an interview with HLN News, Quanell said he believed Bowens will face charges.
So far, only Vence has been charged in Maleah’s case. Quanell has said the police have sufficient evidence to make more arrests.
“All I can do is what I’ve done. They have enough info to do what they’ve got to do – if they don’t, they need to explain why,” Quanell said.
On Sunday, Houston will honor Maleah by turning City Hall pink – her favorite color.
Mayor Sylvester Turner says he’s approved a request to turn the Houston City Hall lights pink on Sunday.
“I think God wants to use Maleah to make life better for other children who suffered and are still suffering like Maleah was,” Quanell said.
Quanell said plans for a proper home going service for Maleah is underway.
“She deserves a proper burial,” he said. “She deserves a burial fitting of that young girl – we all should say goodbye… The entire city and world should be allowed to be a part of that.”
