Human Remains Found Near Fulton

By Mark Keith, 06/1/19 11:36 AM

Human remains found near Fulton on Friday could belong to a missing 4 year old girl from Houston. Hempstead County Sheriff James Singleton told a Shreveport television station his agency, the state police, and others began searching after learning the stepfather of the youngster told Houston police the girl died accidentally and he dumped the body near I-30 in Hempstead County. Searchers orignally looked at an exit nearer Hope but Sheriff Singleton said a mowing crew told his department about a black trash bag near exit 18 they had encountered which was emitting a foul odor. The “stepfather”, Derion Vence, has been in jail in Houston since May 11th when he was charged with tampering with evidence in connection with Maleah Davis’s disappearance. Vence allegedly told a “community activist” Friday that Davis died accidentally and where to find the body. Houston detectives were enroute to Hope Friday and the FBI was also on the scene according to Sheriff Singleton. Vence first told officers he and Maleah and her brother were attacked and he was knocked unconscious. According to Vence, when he regained consciousness, Maleah and the vehicle were gone. Vence was treated for injuries but later arrested after there were inconsistencies in the story. Hempstead County residents have expressed outrage and shock that someone apparently left the body of a child on the side of the road in a trashbag.