Toddler dead after father takes her, attacks her mother, leads police on chase in Texas

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A man has been arrested after he took a 2-year-old out of daycare, confronted the child’s mother, and led police on a chase that ended in the death of the child in Harris County, Texas, on Monday.

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Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a statement posted on Facebook that Deontray Flanagan, 25, has been charged with murder in the 2-year-old girl’s death.

Deputies were called about a family disturbance on Monday just after 10 a.m. A man, who was later identified as Flanagan, reportedly went to a private daycare and picked up the 2-year-old girl, according to KRIV. Flanagan is the child’s father.

Gonzalez said, according to KHOU, that Flanagan then went into a retail store where the girl’s mother worked and confronted her. He reportedly asked for her phone and passcode, threatening to hurt the child if she did not give it to him. The woman gave him the phone.

Flanagan reportedly hit the woman in the face multiple times and left with her phone and the toddler. As Flanagan left the store in his car, police arrived and began to follow him, trying to get him to pull over, KHOU reported. Deputies said that the mother tried to call him to get him to stop, but was unsuccessful.

The chase ended at a church, but Flanagan refused to get out of the car, according to police. As police began to talk with him, they found out the child was unresponsive, the news outlet reported.

A distraction device was used to get Flanagan out of the car.

Gonzalez said, according to KHOU, the man was arrested and the girl was immediately given CPR until Life Flight arrived. The girl later died at the hospital. Gonzalez said it’s possible that the girl was injured by “being thrown around in the car.”