Recently-released court documents have revealed constant contact between Child Protective Services and the biological parents of Maleah Davis, the 4-year-old Texas girl who remains missing after her mother’s boyfriend claimed she was abducted during a robbery.
KPRC has acquired documents dating back to August 2018, when Davis and her 7-year-old brother were removed from the home following abuse allegations stemming from a head injury Davis had suffered. In February of this year, a court granted a “monitored return” of the children to their mother, Brittany Bowens, with a permanency hearing scheduled for May 22, 2019, the documents stated.
The news station reported that a doctor couldn’t determine whether the 4-year-old’s injuries were caused by abuse. Documents stated that Bowens completed her court-ordered parenting classes before her children were returned to her.
The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) recommended the case stayed open until August, with a dismissal scheduled for the same month.
In one of their reports, DFPS wrote that Davis was “having all of her needs met and meeting all developmental milestones.”
“The primary goal is family reunification. The agency believes this is in the best interest of Maleah,” they also wrote, according to KPRC.
While Davis was last seen alive on April 30, her mother’s boyfriend, Derion Vence, 26, reported Davis missing on May 4. He told police that four Hispanic men abducted the child and assaulted him on May 3, according to Sugar Land police.
On Saturday, Vance was jailed on tampering with evidence charges after investigators reportedly recovered blood from his apartment, which matched to Maleah.
KIAH reported that a gag order was placed on attorneys and the media to preserve the confidentiality of CPS records regarding the missing girl’s family. The gag order refers to CPS documents which date back to 2016.
The order was reportedly implemented to ensure the suspect’s right to a fair trial. However, the latest order may prevent the public from learning why Davis underwent brain surgery a month before her disappearance.
[Featured image: Maleah Davis/Handout]
