Houston family and friends pay tribute to Maleah Davis 5 years after her death

Friends, family and community leaders came to Sunnyside Park Sunday to remember the life of Maleah Davis five years after her death shook the nation.

The 4-year-old girl had been missing for a month when authorities found her remains in Arkansas on May 31, 2019. The tragedy sparked a conversation about preventing violence against children.

The City of Houston proclaimed June 9 as Maleah Davis Day in 2019. Then-Mayor Sylvester Turner said in the proclamation that “the community is united in creating lasting change in her honor and is committed to to protect all children in our community.”

Five years later, board members Letitia Plummer and Edward Pollard joined the family in celebration of Maleah Davis Day in hopes of helping communities prevent further tragedies and “protect the lives of precious children,” Plummer said in an OnScene television video.

“Maleah’s legacy inspires us to advocate for the safety and well-being of all children and to ensure that their dreams and hopes are not dashed prematurely,” Plummer read the plaque proclaiming the day.

Maleah’s father, Craig Davis, expressed his gratitude to everyone in attendance. He said the community was the “reason he survived” his daughter’s death after first hearing about it.

“It’s a blessing…it’s more than I expected,” he said in the OnScene video. “(Maleah) was everything and I’m glad everyone knows that.”

Plummer pushes for families and communities to work as a “village” to prevent child deaths.

“It’s a combination of crime issues in the city of Houston, domestic violence issues, our relationship with CPS and what we need to do to make sure that our children who don’t have voices right now are protected every day,’” Plummer said.

Pollard added that Maleah’s life was significant and it is important to remember her so the community can “come together and work together.”

“When I heard about this celebration, it touched me because sometimes in a big city we have problems and concerns that hit us every day,” he said. “It’s important for us to remember those who came before us, those families who are suffering…who endured each day.”

An inmate, then activist Quanell X, reported that Vence confessed to accidentally killing Maleah and dumping her body in a field. This led police to find Maleah’s body.

Former council member Mike Knox believed Vence should have been charged with capital murder.

“I’m not cured, I’m healing,” Maleah’s father said. “I’m strong enough to be with people and hug them and try to give them back the love because they gave it to me, that’s completely normal.”