The Sevier County, Ark. Sheriff’s Department announced on Tuesday that it is seeking a charge of murder in the first degree against a 19-year-old Broken Bow man accused of fatally assaulting a 2-year-old girl.
Wesley Davis
According to Sevier County deputies, law enforcement was called to a residence in Lockesburg, Ark. around 10:38 p.m. on Saturday after first responders from that town were giving treatment to the unresponsive 2-year-old.
Once deputies arrived and observed that the victim had injuries consistent with domestic violence, they identified Wesley Davis, 19, as a suspect and detained him, transporting him to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Department for further investigation.
The 2-year-old victim was transported first to the Sevier County Medical Center and was then transferred to Arkansas’ Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.
A sheriff’s investigator then interviewed Davis, during which he confessed to assaulting the girl, according to deputies. He was booked into the Sevier County Jail for domestic battering in the first degree, which in Arkansas is a Class Y felony (the highest grade of offense).
On Tuesday, the 2-year-old succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She passed away at 11:28 a.m., deputies said.
Sheriff’s personnel said that they have been in contact with Prosecuting Attorney Jana Bradford and an affidavit charging Davis was being upgraded to murder in the first degree.
Sevier County officers extended their thanks to Lockesburg first responders and SouthWest EMS for their immediate notification of law enforcement once the nature of the child’s injuries were discovered.
An initial report in the McCurtain Gazette on Monday noted that a press release about the incident was not available at that time. According to deputies on Tuesday, the press release was delayed due to continuing investigations and the hope of obtaining more information from Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Sevier County deputies noted that the hospital had been a “tremendous help” in the ongoing investigation.
“Our condolences and prayers go out to the family and friends of the two-year-old female along with all first responders, EMS, law enforcement, Sevier County medical staff and Arkansas Children’s Hospital medical staff that have been involved in this tragic event,” deputies said.
Records on Davis in McCurtain County show no serious allegations against him here. He had several traffic allegations from 2021 through 2024, but that was it.
He will mark his 20th birthday on the last day of this month, likely behind bars.
