Jury Convicts Houston Man of Murdering His 2-Year-Old Daughter After High-Speed Chase

A Texas jury has convicted Deontray Flanagan of capital murder in the death of his 2-year-old daughter, Zevaya Flanagan, a crime that prosecutors say unfolded in a harrowing 45 minutes of violence and chaos. The case, marked by a chilling FaceTime call with the child’s mother and a high-speed police chase, has drawn widespread outrage and highlighted the devastating impact of domestic violence.

The tragic events began in March 2023 when Flanagan took Zevaya from her daycare in Houston. Ignoring police orders to stop, he led deputies on a 30-mile pursuit while the child, unsecured in the car, was thrown around the vehicle as it swerved through traffic and collided with other cars. Prosecutors say Flanagan used the chase to enact a twisted form of revenge against his former partner, Kairsten Watson, whom he suspected of moving on with a new relationship.

During the chase, Flanagan reportedly FaceTimed Watson, forcing her to witness the brutal assault on their daughter. “He’s killing her,” Watson was heard pleading, according to prosecutors. Zevaya’s grandfather, Curtis Watson, also attempted to reason with Flanagan over the phone, but his efforts were futile. “He showed me the lifeless corpse of my granddaughter,” Curtis Watson later told reporters. “I wouldn’t wish that anguish on anyone.”

The chase ended in a tense standoff with a SWAT team, and Flanagan was taken into custody. Zevaya was airlifted to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries, which included blunt force trauma and strangulation. Defense attorneys argued in court that the child’s injuries were caused by her lack of restraint in the car during the chase, but prosecutors presented overwhelming evidence of deliberate violence.

The jury’s verdict leaves Flanagan facing life in prison or the death penalty under Texas law. For Watson and her family, the decision offers little solace in the wake of their immense loss. The case has reignited discussions about domestic violence, child safety, and the systemic failures that allow such tragedies to occur, as the courtroom drama closes on a story marked by profound heartbreak.