PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Nearly three years ago, 4-year-old Damari Carter was found dead inside a duffel bag in West Philadelphia. On Monday, the murder trial against his mother and her boyfriend began.
Carter’s mother, Dominique Bailey, told police her son was hit and killed by a car in December 2023, but investigators said there’s no evidence to support that.
A detective took the witness stand and told the courtroom that a tip to a local news station from one of Bailey's family members started the investigation.
His body was found inside a duffel bag in March of 2024.
Prosecutors told the courtroom that they will prove the 4-year-old was abused by his mother and her boyfriend, Kevin Spencer, through inconsistencies in both their statements, along with digital evidence showing the child with bruises.
Commonwealth lawyers said there is also evidence of deleted texts between the couple, showing they had something to hide.
Damari CarterProvided by Darryle Carter
According to Spencer’s attorney, Bailey showed up at Kevin Spencer’s house one day with Carter and never asked if he could live with him. Spencer’s lawyer said his client provided a clean and safe environment for the boy.
Bailey's lawyer told jurors she was a hardworking single mother who had no motive to kill her child.
The detective also told jurors that Spencer gave him a different name when he searched his home in 2024.
Spencer and Bailey are facing charges including murder and endangering the welfare of a child.
