Teen in Custody Following Toddler's Death

A 14 year old boy from Houston, TX is being held in custody while authorities investigate the death of his two year old cousin. According to police, the teen, whose name has not been released due to his age, was babysitting five children ranging from 11 months to four years of age when his cousin, Daveon Adams, was fatally beaten.

Reportedly, the suspect's mother left early in the morning to take three other children to the doctor. She returned a few hours later, and then left again to conduct business at a local bank. Estella Olguin, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Children's Protective Services (CPS), said that paramedics were called to the teen's home at about noon on Wednesday, February 7. When the paramedics arrived, they indicated that Daveon had suffered multiple injuries including internal bleeding, chest abrasions, and head contusions. He was transported to a local hospital where he died early Thursday morning.

The teenage suspect told authorities that he struck Daveon in the abdomen. The paramedics were contacted after the suspect called his mother to report that Daveon was not breathing. According to police, he currently faces charges for injury to a child in the Harris County juvenile court system.

According to Olguin, Daveon and his three year old brother were placed in the care of their aunt and uncle, the suspect's parents, last December while their mother was being investigated for sexual abuse and drug use. "We had been involved with their mother because of concerns of drug use and the condition of the home. They had been placed with the relatives while we worked with their mom," she said.

The placement of the children was the third in six months. Although the family had seven children of their own, CPS completed background checks and determined that they could handle the two cousins. "When we talked to the aunt and uncle, they said they wanted to help," Olguin said. "They knew these children, they loved them, and they wanted them to be part of their family to prevent them from being in foster care."

A caseworker from CPS had checked on Daveon and his brother two weeks ago and was scheduled to make another visit on February 8, the day after Daveon died. Caseworkers reported that there had never been any indication of danger. "The 14-year old had never exhibited any aggressive behavior," Olguin said. "We don't know what triggered it and no one suspected that he was capable of doing something like this."

Daveon's brother has been placed in a foster home. The teen's siblings are staying with family members until officials determine whether the home is safe. A court hearing will be held on February 21 to determine who should have custody of Daveon's brother.