Family Car In Missing 4-Year-Old Maleah Davis Case Found In Missouri City, Texas
The family car of missing 4-year-old Maleah Davis was found in Missouri City, Texas, this morning (May 9).
According to KTRK, a woman spotted the silver Nissan Altima in the parking lot of a shopping center.
The woman told co-workers she recognized the car from the news and quickly reported the vehicle to police.
The co-worker of the woman who found the car said the discovery made her extremely emotional.
"She is broken, she can't even hold herself. She is crying, very frantic. Everyone is shaking because this is like the movies, it doesn't look real," co-worker Emmanuel Joseph told KTRK.
Once police arrived at the scene, investigators searched the Nissan Altima but found no visible evidence inside of it.
Detective Ken Fregia said the car was unlocked when officials arrived, and it was clean.
Investigators also said there was nothing suspicious inside the car and no signs of any unusual activity.
The vehicle will be taken to the Houston Police Department for further processing.
Maleah's mother, Brittany Bowens, became visibly distraught after seeing the vehicle.
"Where is Maleah? Where is my baby?" she tearfully yelled.
Volunteers resumed their search for Maleah Thursday morning after weather halted it the day before.
Heavy rains are expected in the Houston area between Thursday and Saturday, meaning the Texas EquuSearch effort could be shut down for three days.
Meanwhile, police said they’ve found several inconsistencies in the stepfather's story.
When Darion Vence first spoke with investigators, he said he was knocked unconscious while checking his car for a potentially flat tire. When he finally woke up, he said his 1-year-old son was still with him, but Maleah was gone. However, Sugar Land police told KRTK his story changed multiple times when they questioned him.
"During the initial interview, the man's story did change several times and some of what he told us just didn't add up," Doug Adolph, the spokesperson for Sugar Land police, told KTRK.
SLPD also said that the family's Nissan Altima, which was reported stolen after the attack, was seen driving around Sugar Land at 3 p.m. Saturday, hours after Vence said he regained consciousness.
Vence is not facing any charges, and police have not considered him a suspect in Maleah's disappearance. However, detectives did say he is a person of interest.
Vence’s 1-year-old son is in the care of a relative.
