HOUSTON – A photo obtained Monday shows the last time Maleah Davis was seen before the 4-year-old girl was reported missing more than a week ago.
According to a police source, the photo shows Maleah and her stepfather, Derion Vence, walking into the family’s apartment together just before 8 a.m. on April 30. Later that same day, Vence is seen on surveillance video recorded by a neighbor, walking through the apartment complex alone.
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Maleah’s mother flew out of state on that day to attend a funeral, investigators said.
Vence told police that he was on his way to the airport to pick up Maleah's mother on May 3 when he stopped to investigate a popping sound coming from a tire. He said that was when three men abducted him, Maleah and Maleah’s younger brother. He said he was knocked out during the encounter and when he regained consciousness, Maleah and the family’s gray Nissan Altima were missing.
Another surveillance photo provided by a police source shows Vence leaving the family's apartment at 6:47 p.m. on May 3, about the time Vence said he left for the airport. Maleah is not seen in the photo, but her younger brother is. The police source said investigators believe Vence is seen carrying a bottle of bleach in the photo.
Another surveillance photo that was taken about 1:40 p.m. on May 3 showed Vence leaving the apartment alone and carrying a laundry basket with a black trash bag inside.
Investigators said a search of the family’s apartment turned up blood which matched Maleah’s DNA that was taken from her toothbrush.
Vence was arrested on Saturday and charged with tampering with evidence. He was being held in jail on $1 million bond, but a judge decided to lower the amount to $45,000.
The search for Maleah will resume on Monday morning.
