Update: Remains found in trash bag during search for Maleah Davis after her stepdad confessed to 'killing her by accident’

CRIME NEWS

Update: Remains found in trash bag during search for Maleah Davis after her stepdad confessed to 'killing her by accident’

Authorities in Houston believe the remains of a child found in southwest Arkansas on Friday may belong to 4-year-old Maleah Davis who went missing one month ago.

"Do we believe that it's possibly her? Yes. But can we confirm it right now? No," Houston Police Executive Assistant Chief Troy Finner told reporters. "If it's not Maleah, it's somebody's child," he said.

The discovery comes after her stepfather, Derion Vence, 26, confessed to accidentally killing her and dumping her where they found the remains of a child.

Earlier on Friday, suspect Derion Vence confessed to Quanell X, a community activist who was representing the victim's mother, Brittany Bowens. He said he killed Maleah before dumping her body in Arkansas.

"One thing he wanted to make clear to me was (that) what happened to Maleah was an accident, he says it was an accident. And he confessed to me where he dumped the body," Houston community activist Quanell X told CNN affiliate KTRK.

"He said he pulled over in Arkansas, got out of the car, walked to the side of the road, and dumped the body off the road," said Quanell, who used to represent the girl's mother.

After Houston police detectives along with a search and rescue team headed to Arkansas to began searching near Hope, a town about 30 miles northeast of the Texas-Arkansas border. They spotted a garbage bag emitting a foul odor along Interstate 30 near Hope. The remains of a child were inside the bag, Hempstead County Sheriff James Singleton told CNN affiliate KTAL.

"It might be Maleah but we can't be certain," Houston Police Cmdr. Michael Skillern told reporters.

The remains have been flown to Texas where it will undergo forensic testing to determine the identity.

Vence, 26, has been charged with tampering with evidence in connection with the case. He was engaged to Brittany Bowens, Maleah's mother, and was taking care of Maleah and his son when she went missing on May 4. Vence is currently in custody. 

If convicted of tampering, he faces between two and 20 years in prison.

SHARE THIS STORY

U.N. receives 37 sexual abuse allegations against its personnel in the first quarter of 2019

NEWS

U.N. receives 37 sexual abuse allegations against its personnel in the first quarter of 2019

 

A spokesperson of the United Nations has revealed that the international body received 37 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse against its personnel in the first quarter of 2019.

Mr Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the organisation, disclosed this at a news conference in New York on Thursday. The alleged offenders, according to Haq, include civilian and uniformed personnel from peacekeeping as well as personnel of agencies, funds and programmes.  

He also noted that not all the allegations reported had been fully substantiated, and that many were in the preliminary stage of assessment.

“Of the 37 allegations, there are 49 victims: 28 women and 11 girls, one boy, seven females of unknown age, one unknown adult and one unknown child. Sixteen of these allegations are categorised as sexual abuse, 27 as sexual exploitation, four are of an unknown nature, and two have been categorised as “other”, of which one was closed. Of these 37 allegations, one has been substantiated through an investigation and has been referred to the Member State,’’ the spokesperson said.

He added that four of the allegations were not substantiated; 26 at various stages of investigation, and six under preliminary assessment to determine if there is sufficient information to investigate. Haq stated that the world body also received 33 allegations, involving 37 victims and 38 perpetrators, against non-UN personnel working as implementing partners.

SHARE THIS STORY

Obama meets football legend, Pele in Sao Paulo, Brazil as they discuss how to make the world better

NEWS

Obama meets football legend, Pele in Sao Paulo, Brazil as they discuss how to make the world better

 

Football legend Pele met with former US president Barack Obama in Sao Paulo on Thursday where the pair discussed how “to make the world better”.

Making his first major public appearance weeks after a surgery to remove a kidney stone, a healthy-looking Pele smiled and clutched Obama’s hand as they posed for a photo.

Pele shared the photo on social media saying, “met with President Obama while he was in town. We spoke about how to work together to make the world better. Happy we are on the same team.”

SHARE THIS STORY

IMF Bemoans The Infrastructural Growth In Africa

​BREAKING NEWS

IMF Bemoans The Infrastructural Growth In Africa

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday said the leadership of Africa nations must take responsibility of the infrastructural growth of their respective countries.

IMF also urged the people of the continent to demand better and more infrastructure from their leaders.

Miss Ha Vu, a Public Financial Management Specialist of the IMF stated this on Wednesday at the institution’s headquarters in Washington DC, United States.

Ms Vu and and Mr Karim Barhoumi, IMF Resident Representative in Benin and Togo, jointly spoke on the theme ‘Public Investment Efficiency in Sub-Saharan African Countries: What Lies Ahead?’ on the sidelines of the IMF Spring Meetings 2018.

In response to our correspondent’s question on why Africa was still battling economic issues despite suggestions by the IMF and the World Bank, she said the bodies only provide framework and have no powers to implement.

She said: “Your question is very good. We try to help African counties to improve infrastructural governance. Now, who do you think should be the key actor?

“It is you, Africa. We are here to support, to guide. Infrastructural governance won’t improve if the framework we provide is not applied.

“The role of the framework is to guide you, to find the issues, to know where to look at. So what the IMF do is provide the technical assistance to implement reforms.”

Also speaking, Mr Barhoumi said: “You are right. There are political issues. It depends on the commitment you have at the political level.

“The Fund is always ready to help. Other developmental partners are ready to help. But more importantly, you, in Africa, must help too because we would like to see more and better infrastructure for the people.”

Please Share This Post

Nigerian Govt Laments On The Killings Of Nigerian Youths In UK

​BREAKING NEWS

Nigerian Govt Laments On The Killings Of Nigerian Youths In UK

The Federal Government on Monday expressed worry over increasing spate of killing of Nigerians in UK in recent time.

In a statement on Monday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, she expressed government’s position on the matter. .

The statement signed by her Media Aide, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, stated that Dabiri-Erewa advised Nigerians to be careful and exercise restraint.

The presidential aide was quoted as saying “the increased killing of blacks, especially those of Nigerian origin in London was worrisome and disturbing.”

“It is reported that more than 50 blacks, mainly youths, were either stabbed or gunned down in the first quarter of 2018 in London alone.

“Nigerian boys killed in the UK in the first quarter of 2018, mainly London, included Oluwadamilola Odeyingbo, 18, Taofeek Lamidi, 20, and Harry Uzoka, 25.

“Others were Rotimi Oshinbajo, 26, Fola Odubiyi, 18, Niyi Shode, 24, Kelvin Odunuyi, 19, Abraham Badru, 26, Israel Ogunsola, 18, and more unreported cases.”

Dabiri-Erewa had last week written protest letter to the British High Commissioner in Nigeria, demanding justice and investigation into the matter.

She, however, advised Nigerians to continue to be good ambassadors of Nigeria by obeying the rules of their host country and not to take laws into their hands.

She condoled with the affected families and prayed unto God to comfort them.

She said government would continue to seek for justice and bring to book the perpetrators of the gruesome killings.

Please Share This Post