Man Who Killed Girlfriend and Her 4-Year-Old Gave Bizarre Excuses for Not Calling Police, Authorities Say

HOUSTON, TX — A Texas man accused of brutally killing his girlfriend and her 4-year-old daughter is facing capital murder charges after authorities say he offered a series of strange and implausible excuses for why he didn’t alert police for nearly a full day after the violent deaths.

The suspect, 32-year-old Devin Tate, was arrested earlier this week after Houston police discovered the bodies of 27-year-old Jasmine Morgan and her daughter Aubri inside their southwest Houston apartment. Authorities say the victims had been dead for several hours before a neighbor, concerned about a smell and lack of activity, contacted law enforcement.

When officers questioned Tate, his responses raised immediate red flags. According to court documents, Tate initially claimed that he “didn’t want to get in trouble” and later suggested he had been “too overwhelmed” to call 911. At one point, he allegedly told investigators that he thought the victims might “wake up” and that he “needed time to think.”

Timeline of Events

Police believe the murders occurred late Sunday night following a heated argument between Tate and Morgan. Neighbors reported hearing shouting and a child crying, followed by a loud thud. Surveillance footage shows Tate leaving and re-entering the apartment multiple times throughout the night and next morning, but he never contacted emergency services.

Authorities found evidence of blunt-force trauma on both victims. The 4-year-old had also suffered signs of prior abuse, according to the medical examiner’s report.

Legal Action and Community Response

Tate is being held without bond and has been charged with two counts of capital murder, one of which includes the murder of a child under 10 — a charge that could carry the death penalty under Texas law.

“This is a heartbreaking and deeply disturbing case,” said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. “A mother and her child were taken from this world in an act of unthinkable violence, and the suspect’s refusal to seek help shows an utter disregard for human life.”

Friends and family of the victims held a vigil Wednesday night outside the apartment complex, calling for justice and greater support for domestic violence prevention programs. Jasmine Morgan was remembered as a devoted mother who worked hard to provide a better life for her daughter.

A Growing Crisis

Tragically, this case is not isolated. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in four women experiences severe intimate partner violence in their lifetime, and children are often unintended victims.