GREENVILLE, Texas — A 24-year-old man is being held on capital murder charges in connection with the death of his five-week-old niece in Greenville.
Bail is set at $1.5 million for Deaundray Woods, who is now the Hunt County jail. He also faces a charge of abandoning or endangering a child.
The infant, Devynn Alyse McEwen, was pronounced dead early Tuesday. The Dallas County Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy to determine how she died.
Greenville police said officers responded to a 911 call for help about an unresponsive infant shortly before 11 p.m. Monday in the 4200 block of 4th Street.
WFAA obtained a copy of the 911 call made by the child's mother, Veronica Vicari. She told the 911 operator that they had left the infant in the care of Woods. She said they returned and found the child on the floor.
It is not clear if Woods was there when Vicari arrived.
On the 911 call, Vicari is clearly distraught, saying, "My baby is gone." She also said the child was gasping for air, begging paramedics to hurry.
Several neighbors said they saw Vicari run outside screaming. The neighbors also said the child was bleeding from the ears.
Authorities said Woods fled the scene before police arrived. He was taken into custody a short time later.
Because of the child's age, Woods could face the death penalty. He declined a jail interview request.
