Derion Vence confesses Maleah Davis is dead, tells Quanell her body is in Arkansas
HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Derion Vence has confessed that four-year-old Maleah Davis is dead, according to Quanell X.
Vence, a person of interest in Maleah's disappearance and her mother's ex-fiance, made the confession to Quanell from jail Friday morning.
TIMELINE: A look at the timeline of events in Maleah Davis case
Quanell X held a press conference with Texas EquuSearch founder Tim Miller just before noon.
He says Vence told him that Maleah's death was an accident and that he admitted to dumping her body in a ditch in Arkansas.
MORE: Quanell X no longer representing Brittany Bowens, Maleah Davis' mother
“One thing [Vence] wanted to make clear to me was that what happened to Maleah was an accident,” Quanell said. "He confessed to me where he dumped her body."
Quanell did not disclose the exact location of where Maleah's body was dumped.
Miller said search crews are traveling in a private plane to Arkansas at 3 p.m. to recover her body.
RELATED: Derion Vence gives police conflicting accounts
Vence's court-ordered attorney tells FOX 26 he is not happy with this development. He does not know how Quanell was able to visit Vence in jail.
Law enforcement has not confirmed any of this information, but detectives are accompanying Miller's search crew to Arkansas.
Arkansas State Police, local authorities and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are on the ground searching the area that Vence indicated to Quanell. Vence, however, is not assisting investigators in their search.
This comes almost four weeks after an Amber Alert was issued for Maleah.
Maleah's disappearance grabbed the attention of the nation due to the ever-changing narrative around her disappearance.
Maleah's mother, Brittany Bowens and her ex-fiance Vence have both been criticized by the public for their changing accounts and their history with Child Protective Services.
RELATED: Mom of Maleah Davis makes shocking allegations against ex-fiance
Bowens initially defended Vence, only to later implicate him in Maleah's death. She threw several shocking allegations against him, including abuse of her daughter.
RELATED
Crime Stoppers increases reward for information on Maleah Davis, total climbs to $27,500
Protesters say CPS failed to protect 4-year-old Maleah Davis
Texas EquuSearch temporarily suspends search for Maleah Davis
Mother of Maleah Davis sits down with FOX 26
Texas EquuSearch searches woods along Derion Vence's former mail route in Rosharon
Mom of Maleah Davis makes shocking allegations against ex-fiance
Prosecutor: Dogs detected decomposition in Maleah Davis case
New search locations after conflicting stories from Maleah Davis' stepfather
Car reported stolen in Maleah Davis case found in Missouri City parking lot