NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A Queens man was indicted on attempted murder and other charges for the brutal beating of his 8-year-stepson, who had eaten his brownies, Queens D.A. Melinda Katz said Tuesday.
Davien Reid Sr., 43, was arraigned Friday on charges of attempted murder, assault, intimidating a witness, obstructing governmental administration and endangering the welfare of a child.
"As alleged, these defendants inflicted unspeakable cruelty. An 8-year-old child was beaten repeatedly resulting in fractures, internal injuries and vomiting. Afterward, the child was forced to lick the vomit off the floor. It was brutal. Thankfully, the victim and his siblings are all now safe and we will get justice for this child.” D.A. Katz said.
According to charges, the boy was accused of eating brownies intended for Reid. Reid allegedly hit the child, picked him up, threw him to the ground and then repeatedly stomped on him, causing fractures to his neck and back and multiple internal injuries. When the boy vomited, Reid is alleged to have made him lick the vomit off the floor.
Dayanara Vargas, 31, was arraigned Friday on charges of assault, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and obstructing governmental administration for a separate earlier incident for allegedly striking her son on the head with a broom, which required the child to get staples on his scalp to close the wound.
According to the investigation, Reid and Vargas have been together for several years. Reid entered the relationship with three children and Vargas had two children. The couple also have two children in common.
On April 24, 2024, Vargas called 911 and told police that her 8-year-old son was injured while fighting with his stepbrother.
Police responded to the Richmond Hill home and found the child sitting on the bathroom floor with head trauma. His head was severely bruised and deformed with one eye swollen shut and bruises covering his back and arms.
The child was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries to his abdomen as well as with serious injuries to his head and spine.
He had compression fractures on his neck and upper back, a subdural hematoma, ligament injuries in his neck, rectal bleeding, a laceration to his pancreas as well as intestinal and abdominal injuries.
He remained hospitalized for three weeks and required feeding tubes during part of that time. He also had to wear a cervical collar for his neck injuries for approximately five months.
The boy later disclosed to investigators that Reid had beaten him. He also disclosed that in November 2023, his mother struck him on the head with a broom causing a gash that required several medical staples to close.
The mother took the child to an urgent care facility where she lied to doctors about the cause of the injury, prosecutors said.
All the children were taken from the home and placed into care shortly after police responded to the 911 call and transported the boy to the hospital.
Reid and Vargas are set to return to court April 11.
If convicted, Reid faces up to 25 years in prison and Vargas faces up to seven years.