Derion Vence pleaded guilty Thursday to tampering with a corpse and injury to a child -- 4-year-old Maleah Davis -- and was sentenced to 40 years in prison, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

HOUSTON – Derion Vence, 27, appeared before a judge for a bond condition hearing in connection with the death of Maleah Davis Friday morning. A grand jury indicted Vence with tampering with evidence in the 4-year-old girl’s death. As part of Vence’s bond conditions, the state requested that he have no contact with Brittany Bowens, the mother of Maleah Davis, or any member of the Davis family, as well as any children under the age of 17. According to authorities, he claimed Maleah, as well as Vence’s 1-year old child, were with him. Vence’s bond is set at $90,000 for both charges.

HOUSTON – Over a hundred people gathered at Sunnyside Park on Saturday to honor Maleah Davis’ memory alongside her family. “If she was alive we would celebrate it and now she is in heaven we still celebrated it,” said Maegreen. “My daughter, she resembles her Maleah and she wanted to celebrate her birthday," said a woman attending the event. According to investigators, Vence said he, Maleah and her younger brother were attacked the previous day when he’d stopped to check a damaged tire. He said he was knocked out during an attack and when he regained consciousness, Maleah and the family’s car were gone.

HOUSTON – Things got heated Friday in court when Maleah Davis’ biological father, Craig Davis, jumped across the courtroom to attack suspect Derion Vence on Friday, according to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. The DA’s office confirmed Friday afternoon that Vence appeared to the 308th court for a case. According to the DA’s Office, Craig Davis was an observer during proceedings in court and then jumped across the bar to attack Vence. Court documents reveal Vence is accused of striking Maleah with a blunt object, causing her to hit another blunt object and fall to the floor. He said he was knocked out during an attack and when he regained consciousness, Maleah and the family’s car were gone.

So, before the year comes to an end, we are looking back at the biggest Texas stories of 2019. On Jan. 5, 2019, deputies arrested 20-year-old Eric Black Jr. and charged him with capital murder in connection with the case. The fire continued to grow until it was extinguished on March 19, 2019, until a fireball erupted on March 20, 2019, sending thick smoke into the air but was quickly extinguished. On March 21, 2019, benzene at the facility was detected, which prompted officials to issue a shelter-in-place for Deer Park and Galena Park. Gunmen identified in West Texas mass shooting as Seth Ator 09-1-2019A 36-year-old man went on a deadly shooting rampage in west Texas on Aug. 31, 2019.

On May 5, 2019, the world got a glance of Maleah’s face when an Amber Alert for the 4-year-old went out. (KPRC2)Reward to find Maleah continued to raiseOn May 23, 2019, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and his office offered an additional $5,000 in reward. Maleah Davis DayHouston City Hall was lit up pink on Sunday, June 9, 2019 for Maleah Davis Day. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner declared Jun 9, 2019, as Maleah Davis Day and City Hall was lit up in pink -- Maleah’s favorite color. READ: Maleah Davis’ casket photos shared by her fatherThe interior of the casket features bright colors and more ponies.