Karloina Davis and Pierson Davis face murder and child abuse charges after their son Vincent died from caregiver neglect. On August 12, 2024, the mother called 911 claiming the child was beyond help. Authorities found the toddler severely malnourished amid squalid home conditions.
Karloina Davis, 30, and Pierson Davis, 29, have been charged with murder and two counts of first-degree child abuse in Ingham County, Michigan, related to the death of their 1-year-old son Vincent Davis. The Ingham County Prosecutor's Office announced the charges, stemming from an incident on August 12, 2024, in Aurelius Township on the 5200 block of Plains Road. Karloina Davis called 911 that morning, reporting she found Vincent face down and not breathing in his crib. She referred to him in the past tense and, when urged to perform CPR, stated he was 'beyond help.' Responding officers found her holding the stiff, cold child in the driveway. His skin was pulled tight over his face and skull, with a visible rib cage, considerable feces in his diaper, and an orange-sized bruise on his right groin. Vincent was pronounced dead at a hospital, with the cause listed as caregiver neglect and manner as homicide. Inside the home, investigators noted unsuitable conditions for children: dried blood on walls, rotted food on the floor, and general filth. An upstairs room held the couple's naked 4-year-old son, wrapped in a blanket, appearing very weak and crying uncontrollably when lifted. Digital messages referenced 'Demon Pierson' and 'Golden Fate,' including: 'I was just holding him and taking stuff out of his mouth, he has no heartbeat, no breathing,' 'What stuff was in his mouth?' and 'I think pieces of his bed.' Karloina told investigators she found foam pieces from his bed in his mouth to his throat. Pierson Davis had called his mother beforehand. The parents appeared in court on Wednesday, with bonds set at $20 million for Karloina and $10 million for Pierson. They are due back on March 31. Vincent's obituary described him as 'a joyful little boy who touched the lives of everyone around him.'