Child death suspect to appear in court
A Jefferson City woman charged with child abuse in the death of a 4-year-old boy will make her first court appearance Thursday.
Quatavia L. Givens, 26, is scheduled to appear at 9:30 a.m. in front of Judge Thomas Sodergren in Cole County. She’s been jailed since last Wednesday on a single charge of child abuse resulting in death, a Class A felony punishable by up to life in prison.
Givens was charged in connection with the death of Darnell Gary, whose body was found Tuesday in a wooded area of Jefferson City. Police have referred to Givens as Gray’s caregiver, and Gray was staying with her at a home on Buena Vista Street when Givens reported him missing Oct. 25. Police said she told them Gray wandered away or was taken from the home, but later confirmed the location of his body and admitted that she “may have hit him wrong.”
His body showed signs of blunt force and sharp force trauma, police said.
Police have said more arrest are possible in the case.
