A Texas man, Deontray Flanagan, was convicted of capital murder for killing his 2-year-old daughter, Zevaya Flanagan, in March 2023, according to reports. Jurors are set to deliberate his sentencing on Monday, January 13.
Prosecutors revealed that Flanagan picked up Zevaya from daycare and led police on a 45-minute chase. During the pursuit, he FaceTimed Zevaya’s mother, Kairsten Watson, and her grandfather, Curtis Watson... Continue reading here ▶
On the call, they watched in horror as Flanagan strangled and beat the child. He also drove recklessly without strapping Zevaya into a seatbelt, causing her to be thrown around the car. The injuries she sustained during the chase led to her death shortly after being taken to the hospital.
Curtis Watson testified in court, recounting the harrowing experience. “We tried to reason with him on FaceTime, but then he showed me the lifeless body of my granddaughter,” he said. “I wouldn’t wish this anguish on anyone.”
Addressing Flanagan directly, Curtis added, “You may have taken her last breath, but you cannot kill her spirit, her memory, or her name.”
Kairsten Watson, Zevaya’s mother, had previously warned authorities about Flanagan’s threats to harm their daughter. She told ABC 13, “I repeatedly told them something was going to happen, but they didn’t believe me. They thought I was making it up because he was the father.”
If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. The hotline is confidential, toll-free, and available 24/7 in over 170 languages.
