New evidence has reportedly been discovered in the case of a missing 4-year-old girl, according to authorities in Texas.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, 26-year-old Derion Vence was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of tampering with a human corpse. His stepdaughter, Maleah Davis, has been missing since April 30.
The arrest came after authorities reportedly found blood evidence inside of his apartment. Initial reports indicated he was expected to face criminal charges including tampering with a human corpse, though there had been no confirmation that Maleah’s body had been recovered.
Vence initially told police on May 4 that he had been with Maleah and his toddler son the previous day when a truck approached and the men inside abducted them, according to reports. He claimed they released him and the boy but kept the girl. Investigators, however, say they found several holes in his story.
According to KTAL, he remained behind bars on Sunday with bond set at $1 million when police dogs signaled the presence of decomposing human remains inside his vehicle.
“Both of the dogs reacted to the trunk of the silver Nissan that the defendant had driven and that the blue laundry basket was recovered from, indicating that the dogs were responding to the scent of human decomposition in the vehicle,” said Harris County prosecutor Pat Stayton.
In light of the new evidence, Houston police have still not named him as a suspect in the missing girl’s death. Additional charges, with murder among them, are possible as the investigation continues, police reports show.
[Featured images: Maleah Davis, handout/Derion Vence, Houston Police Department]
