Fort Worth Father Charged in Death of 9-Year-Old
A Fort Worth man has been charged with capital murder in the death of his 9-year-old daughter, months after she was found unresponsive in their home.
The charge follows a homicide investigation that began the day the girl died in February.
What Happened on Daniel Street
Officers were called to a home in the 1900 block of Daniel Street on February 8, where they found the child lying unresponsive on the floor.
Emergency personnel performed CPR at the scene before taking her to the hospital, where she later died, according to WFAA's reporting on the case.
Hospital staff alerted police to extensive bruising across the child's body, prompting homicide detectives to open an investigation and request an autopsy.
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What the Father Told Police
During questioning, 35-year-old Marquies Anderson, the girl's biological father, initially told officers he had disciplined her with his hand before later admitting he had used a belt.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Anderson told investigators the girl became unwell while in the bath following the incident, then collapsed and began vomiting. He said he attempted to give her water before calling 911 roughly ten minutes later.
The girl regularly stayed with Anderson and his girlfriend on weekends, according to police.
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What the Autopsy Found
The case moved from an open investigation to a capital charge once medical evidence was finalized.
On June 16, investigators received the autopsy report from the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office, which determined the child died from blunt force injuries.
That finding is what separates this case from a disputed account of discipline. An account from a parent and a medical determination of cause of death are not the same kind of evidence, and it was the latter that triggered Anderson's arrest more than four months after his daughter's death.
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What Happens Next
Anderson was arrested on June 23 and charged with capital murder of a person under 10 years of age, one of the most serious charges under Texas law.
The months-long gap between the girl's death in February and the charge filed in June reflects how long medical and forensic findings can take to move a death investigation toward formal charges, particularly when the determination of cause of death is contested by the account a parent gave at the scene.
Key Takeaways
- Marquies Anderson, 35, has been charged with capital murder in the death of his 9-year-old daughter.
- The girl was found unresponsive in a Fort Worth home on February 8 and later died at the hospital.
- Hospital staff reported extensive bruising, prompting a homicide investigation and autopsy.
- Anderson told police he had disciplined her with a belt; the Tarrant County Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death blunt force injuries.
- Anderson was arrested June 23, more than four months after his daughter's death.
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Rachel Hayes reports on international affairs, geopolitics, and breaking world news. Based in London, she covers stories shaping the UK and global political landscape.
