Vigil to be held for Jefferson City boy whose body was found five years ago

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A vigil for a toddler whose body was found five years ago will be held at Washington Park in Jefferson City on Monday night. 

The vigil for Darnell Gray is being hosted by Missouri Missing and will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Quatavia Givens, 30, was charged with first-degree murder, endangering the welfare of a child, abuse or neglect of a child and abandonment of a corpse in relation to the death of 4-year-old Darnell Gray in 2018.

Vigils have been held on Oct. 30 for Gray for at least the past two years.

Court documents say that Quantavia Givens, who was caring for Gray at the time, allegedly struck and smothered Gray, resulting in his death.

Gray's body was found in the 2100 block of Louis Circle in October 2018, after several days of searches involving police and volunteers. Givens initially told police he was missing and helped the search party look for him, according to court documents and previous reporting.

Givens is charged with first-degree murder, endangering the welfare of a child, abuse or neglect of a child and abandonment of a corpse.

Given was ruled incompetent by a judge in August, which postponed the trial date. She is in the middle of a six-month treatment period, during that time the Department of Mental Health will prepare a review for the court to see if she is fit for trial.

According to Caesnet, a case review is set for 9 a.m. Thursday, March 7, 2024.