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Texas man gets 40 years after no contest plea in death of toddler

SAN ANTONIO — A Texas man who pleaded no contest to killing his 8-month-old stepson was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Tuesday.

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Under an agreement with prosecutors, Christopher Davila, 37, of San Antonio, entered the plea to a charge of injury to a child, a first-degree felony, the San Antonio Express-News reported. In January 2019, 8-month-old King Jay Davila was found wrapped in a blanket and buried in a backpack, the newspaper reported.

Davila was also fined $1,500 and was given credit for time served, KSAT reported. He must serve at least half of his sentence before he can be considered for parole, the television station reported.

King Jay Davila was originally reported missing on Jan. 4, 2019, when he was allegedly taken from a car at a gas station, KENS-TV reported. The toddler was found dead a week later in a field, and investigators determined that the kidnapping was a “staged event,” the television station reported.

Christopher Davila was charged with injury to a child, child endangerment and tampering with evidence, along with two other unrelated charges.

He later called the boy’s death an accident, the Express-News reported.

Christopher Davila’s mother, Beatrice Sampayo, 67, and cousin, Angie Torres, 48, both face tampering with evidence charges in connection with the incident, KSAT reported.

In a letter he wrote to the newspaper in 2019, Christopher Davila said that while caring for the child he had smoked some marijuana. The toddler was unbuckled in a car seat on the edge of a bed and hit his head when he accidentally fell, Davila wrote in his letter.

Davila reportedly admitted knowing the boy was hurt but did not call for help, WOAI reported.

“King Jay’s death is a tragedy made even worse by Christopher Davila’s cowardice in attempting to conceal it and avoid responsibility,” Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said in a statement. “This plea does not bring back a precious life lost, but it does hold Christopher Davila accountable for this horrible crime.”