In a heart-wrenching case that demonstrates systemic failures, 2-year-old Zevaya Flanagan was brutally killed by her father, Deontray Flanagan, during a high-speed police chase in Houston, Texas.
Despite repeated warnings from her mother, Kairsten Watson, about his violent threats, authorities failed to intervene, leading to the tragic loss of the young girl’s life.
The March 2023 incident began when Flanagan took Zevaya from daycare and fled, prompting a 45-minute police pursuit. Zevaya, unsecured in the vehicle, suffered fatal injuries as Flanagan strangled and beat her. The harrowing act was streamed via FaceTime to Watson and her father, Curtis Watson, who pleaded with Flanagan to stop.
In court, Curtis recounted the devastating moment Flanagan displayed Zevaya’s lifeless body on the call.
“I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. To have to go through that type of anguish and pain,” he said.
Watson’s desperate attempts to protect her daughter began long before that tragic day. She repeatedly alerted authorities to Flanagan’s escalating threats, even presenting evidence of messages in which he vowed harm. Her warnings, however, were dismissed.
“I told them over and over that something was going to happen,” Watson said. “They didn’t believe me. They thought I was just making it up because he was the father. Now my baby is gone.”
Flanagan, who has a history of violence, was convicted of capital murder. His sentencing began earlier this month, but for Watson, no outcome can undo the preventable tragedy.
This case highlights a broader issue: the systemic disregard for women’s concerns in domestic violence situations, particularly for Black mothers whose voices often go unheard. Watson’s story is a stark reminder of the importance of taking such threats seriously before it’s too late.
