A Texas resident, Deontray Flanagan, 26, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of the murder of his two-year-old daughter, Zevaya Marie Flanagan. The jury took less than two hours to reach a verdict in the 2023 case, which took place in Houston. The victim’s family expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision and had a poignant message for Flanagan.
Curtis Watson, the victim’s grandfather, spoke to local CBS affiliate KHOU, stating, “You may have taken her last breath, but you cannot kill her spirit, her memory, or her name.” The trial, which lasted three days, was not without its share of drama. Flanagan exhibited violent behavior in the courtroom, attacking a KHOU news camera and injuring a photojournalist before the verdict was announced. Court deputies had to tackle and restrain him.
During the trial, the jury was shown a video of the victim’s mother, Kairsten Watson, witnessing her daughter’s death from the back of a police car. Watson testified about her feelings of helplessness during the incident. She had previously described the horrifying call she received from Flanagan during an interview with a local TV station after the murder.
The incident began on the morning of March 20, 2023, when Flanagan picked up his daughter from daycare and confronted Watson at her workplace, a nearby Walmart. According to the Houston Police Department, Flanagan demanded Watson’s phone, passcodes, and other information, threatening to harm their daughter if she did not comply. Despite Watson’s attempts to rescue her daughter, Flanagan managed to escape with the child and both phones.
Law enforcement was quickly alerted and began tracking one of the phones, leading to a 45-minute chase covering approximately 30 miles. Flanagan drove recklessly, going the wrong way on some roads and colliding with other vehicles. During the chase, Flanagan continued to contact Watson via FaceTime, demanding login information.
Once Flanagan’s car was stopped, a 20-minute standoff with the police ensued before the SWAT team moved in. The child required immediate medical attention and was airlifted to a nearby hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival. Flanagan was unharmed.