HOUSTON – The mother of missing 4-year-old Maleah Davis dropped several bombshells against the girl's stepfather Friday afternoon.
Maleah was reported missing Sunday. Her stepfather told police that he, Maleah and his 2-year-old son were abducted by three men in a blue Chevrolet truck.
Investigators have said Maleah’s stepfather, Darion Vence, is a person of interest in connection with her disappearance, citing inconsistencies in his story about how she was taken.
Maleah's mother, Brittany Bowens, with community activist Quanell X speaking for her, claimed Friday afternoon that there is surveillance video that will help police in their investigation.
A surveillance photo showed Vence leaving the apartment with a basket after Maleah's disappearance.
Quanell X said Bowens and Vence got into an argument.
"She told him that she was giving back his ring and that she was not going to marry him, and I believe that caused him to snap in anger against young Maleah," he said.
Houston police would not confirm any of the claims made by Bowens.Â
KPRC2 Legal Analyst Brian Wice said Maleah's mother had a moral responsibility to report the information she has given the media to the police as soon as possible.Â
"This woman had a moral responsibility as a mom. To do what she could as early as she could. To give law enforcement the proverbial head start. The fact that she didn't, that might not be criminal but it's certainly not going to make her mom of the year," Wice said.
The allegations come one day after a vehicle that police said was stolen from Maleah's family was recovered around 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Missouri City.
Police are checking surveillance video at stores in the shopping center to see if they can determine when the silver Nissan Altima was dropped off and by whom.
Investigators said Thursday they have not been able to reach Vence and that they would like for him to help assemble a sketch of the people he says were involved in the abduction.
Court documents show Maleah's maternal grandmother has requested that the children stay in her care.
Volunteers searched Keegan’s Bayou Trail Friday night, but the search came up empty. Keegan’s Bayou is just a few miles away from where Vence lived.
Maleah is still missing.