Father on Trial for Capital Murder of 2-Year-Old Zevaya Flanagan in Houston

Tragic case as prosecutors allege Deontray Flanagan fatally beat and strangled his 2-year-old daughter Zevaya, witnessed by her mother and grandfather via FaceTime.

Tragic Case of 2-Year-Old Zevaya Flanagan and the Trial of Her Father, Deontray Flanagan

Prosecutors allege that Deontray Flanagan fatally beat and strangled his 2-year-old daughter, Zevaya, while her mother and grandfather watched in horror over FaceTime.

Zevaya, a cheerful Houston toddler with a radiant smile and playful pigtails, lost her life in a heartbreaking sequence of events in March 2023. Her father allegedly abducted her from daycare, leading to a 45-minute police chase that ended in tragedy.

Timeline of Events

On March 21, 2023, Flanagan picked Zevaya up from daycare before heading to a nearby Walmart where her mother, Kairsten Watson, worked. Prosecutors say Flanagan confronted Watson, took her phone, and fled with their daughter.

Watson and her father, Curtis Watson, were forced to witness the unspeakable act through a FaceTime call as Flanagan allegedly attacked Zevaya in his car.

"I know in her mind she probably was just like, 'What did I do? Why are you doing this to me?'" Curtis Watson said, recalling the harrowing experience.

During the police pursuit, Zevaya, unrestrained in the vehicle, was reportedly tossed around violently. Watson and her father pleaded with Flanagan to stop, hoping he would spare her life.

Curtis recounted the devastating moment when Flanagan allegedly showed him his granddaughter's lifeless body during the call. "I wouldn’t wish that on anyone," he said. "To have to go through that type of anguish and pain."

The Trial and Evidence

Flanagan’s capital murder trial began in Houston, bringing back painful memories for Watson and her family. Jurors were shown intense evidence, including video footage from a deputy's squad car during the chase, capturing Watson's screams and desperate pleas for her daughter's safety.

"I gave her baths. We laid together and slept together," Watson said, tearfully recalling the bond she shared with her daughter. "And now I won’t be able to do any of that anymore."

Tragic Ending

The chase ended after a standoff, and Flanagan was arrested. Zevaya was airlifted to Memorial Hermann Hospital but tragically succumbed to her injuries.

Prosecutors hope the trial will bring justice for Zevaya and closure for her grieving family.