Tragic Death of a 3-Year-Old Boy in McKinney, Texas
A 3-year-old McKinney boy who was brought to a hospital in October, unresponsive with injuries to his brain and body, has died, officials and family said.
Dawson Zamora was brought to Medical City McKinney on Oct. 14, unresponsive with injuries that included bleeding in the brain, bruising in various stages of healing and trauma to other areas of his body, according to court records and officials.
The 3-year-old died this week, according to a Facebook post from the child’s father and a statement to The Dallas Morning News from his mother’s attorney.
Arrests and Charges
On Monday, the boy’s mother, Chelsea Berg, 31, was rearrested and is now facing a charge of capital murder of a person under 10 years old. She was initially facing an injury to a child charge and was out after posting bail, according to Collin County jail records.
As of Tuesday, Berg’s 30-year-old boyfriend, Christopher Alexander, who is accused of being left alone with the child during the suspected abuse, also faces a capital murder charge as well as a tampering with or fabricating evidence charge, according to Collin County jail records.
Investigation and Evidence
The child’s injuries, evidence found by police and text messages exchanged before the 3-year-old’s hospitalization suggest that the child’s mother suspected abuse but still left her son alone with Alexander, according to court records.
On Oct. 14, Berg said in an interview with police that she left her son, Dawson, with Alexander about 7:20 a.m. while she went to work, according to court records.
Shortly after receiving a text from Alexander about Dawson eating lunch, she said her boyfriend called her “panicked“ and said he was taking the 3-year-old to the hospital.
When Berg arrived at the hospital, Alexander told her he had been in another room when he heard a “thud” and found the child injured, court records said.
Police said in the affidavit that they were notified by hospital staff that the child’s injuries were inconsistent with Alexander’s story and, according to Berg, the boy did not have the injuries before she left him in Alexander’s care.
Text Messages and Warning Signs
Investigators obtained text messages between Alexander and Berg where she questioned him and accused him of harming her child.
The first texts included in the affidavit are from Sept. 8, more than a month before Dawson was severely injured.
“He has a bruise on his eyebrow and his whole jawline/cheek is bruised,” Berg said in a text. “You’re reckless. He had progressively been getting more and more hurt with you!!! Leave me alone!!! I’m not blind. You’re DANGEROUS.”
In another string of text messages on Sept. 18, Berg stated that Alexander was a threat to her son, according to her affidavit.
“You bruise him, hurt him, and cause damage every single time you are alone with him,” the text said. “There hasn’t been a single time you’ve been alone with him where he hasn’t been hurt.”
Current Status and Next Steps
As of Dec. 9, Alexander and Berg are being held in the Collin County jail.
It’s unclear if Alexander has an attorney.
Berg’s bail conditions initially barred her from seeing her son, according to a statement from her attorney to The News.
As Dawson’s medical condition declined, an emergency motion to modify her bail conditions was granted by a judge, allowing Berg to see her son, according to the attorney’s statement.
Berg was able to say goodbye to him when he passed and was charged with capital murder less than 24 hours after his death, her attorney said.
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Conclusion
The tragic death of 3-year-old Dawson Zamora has left a community in shock and raised questions about the circumstances surrounding his death. As the investigation continues, it is essential to remember the importance of protecting vulnerable children and holding those responsible for their care accountable.
FAQs
Q: What were the circumstances surrounding Dawson Zamora’s death?
