A jury found a Texas man guilty in less than two hours of strangling his 2-year-old daughter while Face Timing her, horrifying her mother and grandfather, as he was pursuing the police at high speed. The man will be imprisoned for the rest of his life.
Zevaya Marie Flanagan died in Houston in 2023, and Deontray Flanagan, then 26 years old, was convicted of capital murder. The victim’s relatives left Flanagan a message expressing their satisfaction with the verdict.
Her grandfather, Curtis Watson, told KHOU, the local CBS affiliate, that even though you may have taken her last breath, you cannot destroy her name, spirit, or memory.
Before the verdict, Flanagan attacked a KHOU news camera, knocking it to the ground and hurting a photojournalist, demonstrating his evident violent tendencies. Flanagan was restrained by several court officers who tackled him to the ground.
The jury watched video of Kairsten Watson, the girl’s mother, witnessing her daughter die from the back of a police vehicle during the three-day trial.
In the video, our daughter pleaded, “Please stop,” according to a Houston Chronicle courtroom report.
She stated in her testimony that she felt powerless.
She allegedly said, “There was nothing I could do about it.”
In the days after the murder, Watson recounted the horrifying call to a nearby television station.
She informed the Fox affiliate KRIV that blood was all over her face. He gave her a heavy blow, then showed me over FaceTime.
Using FaceTime, he strangled her. “Stop it, Tray. That’s your daughter, and she loves you.” “You only love that man; you did this to her,” he said exactly.
On March 20, 2023, at around 10 a.m., Flanagan picked up his daughter from daycare and then stormed into a neighboring Walmart where Kairsten Martin was employed, according to the Houston Police Department.
Because he believed Watson was talking to other men, the defendant accosted her and intimidated her, requesting her phone, passcodes, and other pertinent information.
At a press conference after the event, an HPD spokeswoman essentially threatened to harm the girl if she did not turn up those items. She obeyed. She tried to get her daughter out of his fortress.
But it was impossible for her. Before leaving the scene, [Deontray Flanagan] reportedly hit her in the face multiple times.
Police said that the defendant took his phone, Watson’s phone, and his daughter with him. After that, authorities enforcement received a notification and promptly used one of the phones to locate down the location.
There was a 45-minute chase that covered around 30 miles. On several roads, Flanagan drove in the wrong direction and struck other cars.
Police said that when they finally caught up to the red Camaro, they found that Flanagan’s daughter was not wearing a seatbelt, though it didn’t really matter.
Flanagan kept calling the girl’s mother on FaceTime while driving and requesting login credentials.
I’m sure she was wondering, “What did I do?” in her head. After the incident, Kairsten Watson told KHOU. Why are you treating me like this? Why are you hurting me when I love you?
Curtis Watson expressed his wish to the TV station that the horrific event will be resolved amicably.
“But then he showed me my granddaughter’s dead body,” Curtis Watson told KHOU. I wouldn’t want anyone to experience it. to be subjected to such suffering and agony.
A 20-minute standoff was reported by the police when the defendant’s vehicle was stopped. Then the SWAT unit arrived.
According to authorities, Zevaya Flanagan needed CPR. Flanagan had not been hurt. A helicopter was used to take the girl to a neighboring hospital. However, it was too late; when they arrived, they declared her dead.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.