Protesters criticize Maleah Davis' mother at courthouse

Brittany Bowens, mother of Maleah Davis, exits the courtroom after Derion Vence's arraignment was reset at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center Wednesday, July 10, 2019, in Houston. Vence has been charged in the Maleah Davis case. Davis' body was found mutilated on the side of a freeway in Arkansas in May. less Brittany Bowens, mother of Maleah Davis, exits the courtroom after Derion Vence's arraignment was reset at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center Wednesday, July 10, 2019, in Houston. Vence has been charged ... more Photo: Godofredo A. Vásquez, Staff Photographer Photo: Godofredo A. Vásquez, Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Protesters criticize Maleah Davis' mother at courthouse 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

A judge on Wednesday reset arraignment for Derion Vence, the man accused of tampering with evidence in the death of 4-year-old Maleah Davis.

Vence, who was charged two months ago in the death, was scheduled for arraignment, where suspects typically enter a plea in a case. The 27-year-old, who has been held in Harris County Jail with bond set at $45,000, did not appear in State District Judge DaSean Jones's courtroom. The judge reset the hearing for September.

Vence's attorney, Dorian Cotlar, declined to comment.

Outside the courtroom, about 10 bystanders followed Maleah's mother, Brittany Bowens, shouting at her and criticizing her actions in the case. Bowens said nothing as she got on an elevator.

Maleah was reported missing on May 4, when Vence, Bowen's ex-fiance, arrived at a hospital with a story about being abducted on the way to the airport with the little girl and his then-1-year-old son. Vence said that when he woke up, his son was with him, but Maleah was gone.

Authorities questioned his story, saying it was riddled with inconsistencies. Police also found evidence of blood matching Maleah's DNA in his apartment, as well as surveillance video of him walking out the door with a laundry basket stuffed with a black plastic bag.

Maleah's body was found on May 31, in southwest Arkansas.

Community activist Quanell X said he obtained a jailhouse confession from Vence, who allegedly told him that he'd accidentally killed Maleah and dumped her body in a field. A roadside crew accidentally hit the bag containing Maleah's body with a mower, scattering her remains.

Her body was flown back to Houston and was buried in a private service last month.

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences ruled June 28 that Maleah died as a result of "homicidal violence." The autopsy report has not been completed.