Dad of baby King Jay Davila said death was an accident, he panicked, police say

SAN ANTONIO – The body of a baby believed to be missing 8-month-old King Jay Davila has been found by San Antonio police after his father took investigators to an open field near his neighborhood Thursday night, police said.

San Antonio Police Chief, William P. McManus said in a news conference that Christopher Davila, King Jay's father, took investigators to the dead end of Castle Lance to show investigators where he buried his son.

KSAT reported the field is less than a mile from Davila's last known address in the 5800 block of Castle Brook Drive.

KSAT, citing an arrest affidavit, reported Davila led authorities to the field where investigators dug up a black backpack with what appeared to be a baby's body wrapped in a blanket.

McManus said Davila told police King Jay's death was an accident and that he panicked and didn't call 911. 

McManus also said he was not surprised to get a call that the body had been found and that “it’s something that (he) suspected all along.” 

Based on Davila’s confession, police said he was charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury by omission and tampering with evidence.

Authorities said Davila has a criminal history so he was also charged with felony possession of a firearm and possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, since they found drugs on his person when he was arrested.

District Attorney Joe Gonzales said Davila’s bond has been set at over $1 million and that he will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

According to the arrest affidavit, Davila claimed that King Jay was in a car seat on the bed. Davila said the car seat fell and the baby hit his head. McManus did not confirm those details during the news conference.

The medical examiner is expected to perform an autopsy on the body of King Jay Friday in order to determine his cause of death.


About the Authors:

Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli has been a digital news editor at KPRC 2 since 2018. She is a published poet and has background in creative writing and journalism. Daniela has covered events like Hurricane Harvey and the Astros World Series win. In her spare time, Daniela is an avid reader and loves to spend time with her two miniature dachshunds.