JOSHUA DAVIS - 18 Months (2011) - New Braunfels (NE of San Antonio) TX

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas -- Sabrina Benitez and Josh Davis sat on the steps outside their New Braunfels home with photos of their missing son on the front door and windows, pondering Casey Anthony's acquittal of her 2-year-old daughter's murder and ultimately brief sentence for lying to investigators.

Both said her judgment day awaits.

"She should not have gotten away with it," Benitez said.

Her husband said most troubling was that "no one gets convicted or does any time for it."

"I'm hoping nothing like this happens in my son's case," Benitez said if her 18-month-old son Joshua's fate is sadly the same as Caylee Anthony's.

Unlike Caylee's mother who did not notify Florida authorities for 31 days, Joshua's mother said, "I called within 10 to 15 minutes."

She said New Braunfels police were summoned after friends and family already at their house had searched the premises.

Yet like Casey Anthony, the couple said some in the community cast doubt and suspicion on them.

"It kind of ate me up like, wow, people really think we would be that cold-hearted to do something to our son or make him disappear," Davis said.

However, Joshua's father said he has learned to ignore those sentiments.

"People are going to have their opinions anyway, so there's nothing I can do to change that," he said. "God knows we had nothing to do with his disappearance."

Adding to their ordeal, they said their new baby Jayden, born two weeks after Joshua vanished, was turned over to a family member by Child Protective Services.

Mary Walker, CPS spokeswoman, said it was done only after the mother showed traces of marijuana.

"(Benitez's) mom was taking care of him. Now we're living with him, so we did everything we needed to do," Davis said.

Although Jayden is only five months old, his mother said he responds to Joshua's photographs.

"We remind him of his brother and every time he hears his name, he smiles," she said.

His father said they also tell him, "That's brother. Tell brother to come home."

Instead of the "Beautiful Life" tattoo that Casey Anthony had done after her daughter's death, Benitez has the names of her sons Joshua and Jayden on her wrists.

Also unlike Anthony who often partied with friends in the weeks before Caylee's body was discovered, Benitez said she only attends family gatherings.

"We have a family prayer for him. We think about him," she said.

Davis said Joshua is constantly in their minds and hearts.

"We talk about him. Pray for him. Pray about him," he said.

Benitez cried as she said the family is in turmoil, "not knowing where he's at, who has him, if he's all right."

She said, "We just want answers. We want him back already."

Joshua's father said miracles happen every day.

He said, "I'm praying God has one of those miracles in store for us."
http://www.ksat.com/news/28479776/detail.html

Joshua’s parents hold out hope that son is alive

Posted: Thursday, August 4, 2011 12:00 am

NEW BRAUNFELS — It’s been six months since Joshua Jayvaughn
Davis Jr. was last seen.
Despite all of the effort his parents, law enforcement, concerned
friends, relatives, and even strangers have put into finding him,
there’s still no sign of the toddler, who will turn 2 years old in
a few weeks.


Sabrina Benitez cries as Joshua Davis Sr. talks about their missing son,
Joshua Davis Jr., on Wednesday.
http://herald-zeitung.com/news/local_news/article_f7eb5dbc-be39-11e0-a153-001cc4c03286.html

Parents mark birthday of missing New Braunfels toddler with prayer


NEW BRAUNFELS POLICE DEPARTMENT

Enlarge Photo

Joshua Davis Jr., who vanished from his home six months ago, was born two years ago on August 16.


Ralph Barrera /AMERICAN-STATESMAN

Enlarge Photo

Joshua Davis Jr.'s parents have moved to a different home than the one
he disappeared from Feb. 4 but keep this large banner in their front
yard.


Ralph Barrera /AMERICAN-STATESMAN

Enlarge Photo

Joshua Davis Jr.'s grandfather Jerome Davis still lives in the mobile home where the boy who was watching TV was found missing.


Updated: 7:27 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011

NEW BRAUNFELS —
It was bitterly cold the February night that Joshua Davis Jr. went missing
from his home in New Braunfels.

It had snowed that morning, so the 18-month-old's parents, Joshua Davis and
Sabrina Benitez, said they had kept him indoors. The cold aggravated
Joshua's asthma, a condition that had sent him to the hospital a handful of
times since he was born.

Benitez said Joshua was last seen watching TV with family in the living room
just before 8 p.m.

And then he was gone.

The search involved the FBI, Texas Rangers and search-and-rescue dogs.
Hundreds of volunteers combed brushy scrubland and dense thickets near the
subdivision where the family lived.

Six months later, Joshua is still missing. No body has been found. No
suspects. And no solid leads.

Still, Davis and Benitez are hopeful he's alive. Today, they plan to mark his
second birthday, which is on August 16, with a prayer vigil.

"It's still his day," Davis said. "It's still his birthday."

Jerome Davis, Joshua's grandfather, said he had been resting in his bedroom —
his knees were aching from arthritis — when Benitez came in to ask if he had
seen Joshua that night in February. They searched the house, and then, he
said, he called 911 because Benitez couldn't — she was shaking too hard.

"He was the sweetest little kid you would ever want to see," the
elder Davis said, shaking his head. "That was my baby. Always smiling."

Davis and Benitez no longer live at the house on Savannah Hill Circle. They've
moved in with Benitez's mother, who lives about three miles away, with their
new son, Jeidan. Benitez gave birth to him two weeks after Joshua was
reported missing.

But an 8½-by-11-inch poster taped to the door of the trailer, where Davis'
father still lives, asks anyone with information about Joshua's
disappearance to call the New Braunfels Police Department.

Back on Savannah Hill Circle, Gracie Muñoz, a kindergarten teacher who lives
with her family next door, said the police scoured their home that night,
including the refrigerator. In all, the home was searched three times, she
said, once with dogs sniffing under the trailer.

In daylight, Joshua's street is quiet. His home is nestled among two blocks of
mobile homes, most tidy and well-maintained. Most front yards looked played
in, with swing sets and overturned bikes cluttering the lawns.

Joshua loved playing with toys, Benitez said. Her son enjoyed taking baths and
the movie "Toy Story 3."

Davis said his namesake just liked being with them.

Lt. Heath Purvis with the New Braunfels Police Department said the
investigation is ongoing and a high priority for the department but that
detectives are only receiving about one tip a week. In the beginning of the
investigation, police received as many as four tips a week, totaling about
250 in the past six months.

Purvis wouldn't say whether investigators believe Joshua was abducted.

"One of the things we've never had is a good, solid tip that allows us to
move in any particular direction, to really get it going, really dive into
the investigation," he said. Without any new leads, it could become a
cold case, he said.

Detectives have exhausted every lead, Purvis said, and the Texas Rangers and
FBI are still assisting as needed.

"A lot of this stuff remains a mystery," Purvis said. "We're
always looking for that extra clue that will help us break the case open."

Benitez and Davis said they suspect someone close to the family abducted
Joshua. Nine friends and family were at the house the night Joshua was
reported missing, Benitez said. She believes someone close to the family is
responsible.

"He didn't just vanish into thin air," Davis said.

Benitez said people in their community have pulled away from her and Davis
since Joshua disappeared. Some people thought they were guilty, she said,
judging her by her appearance, including her tattoos.

Sitting in front of a coffee table on which a poster of his missing son rests,
Davis said people questioned his devotion to his son.

"People say, 'Maybe he couldn't put up with being a dad,'" Davis
said. Leaning forward, elbows on his knees, he added: "That's my man.
He's a part of me."

Independently, Benitez and Davis have hired a private investigator, she said,
and continue to pass out fliers with Joshua's picture. A banner in front of
Benitez's mother's house offers a $5,000 reward for his recovery.

"We're living on our faith," Davis said. "Keeping our faith
alive. Keeping our trust in the Lord alive."

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/parents-mark-birthday-of-missing-new-braunfels-toddler-1735414.html

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas -- The case of
missing 11-month-old Baby Lisa Irwin has been in the national media for
weeks. Irwin was last seen about a month ago and investigators are still
following up on leads.Alonzo Washington, who says he works as a
voice for the parents of missing children, said Sunday that while the
attention out there for Baby Lisa is good, there's one child in Texas
who has been forgotten—18-month-old Baby Joshua Davis."I'm all
for helping children of all races and colors," Washington said. "But, it
seems as if there's a prototype for the ones that get national
attention and none of that prototype fits African American."Washington,
an activist and artist, who has been using YouTube and his artwork to
try and help get leads in these cases of missing children is also hoping
to get Baby Joshua's case some national attention.Joshua Davis
Jr. disappeared from his home in New Braunfels in February. Baby Joshua
is still missing, but his parents were happy to hear about Washington's
mission."It's real good that he's doing this because it can bring
awareness to someone who may not be aware of this case anymore," said
Joshua Davis, Baby Joshua's father. "Because, it's not so much on the
news anymore.""The media shouldn't look at him as a minority for
statistics," said Sabrina Benitez, Baby Joshua's mother. "All children
should have national media coverage. All children deserve to be brought
back home."Benitez said they plan on reaching out to Washington
not only to thank him for bringing attention to their case, but also to
see if there's more they can do to try and find their son.
http://www.ksat.com/news/29566555/detail.html

NEW BRAUNFELS - Nearly a year after a New Braunfels toddler disappeared
from his home, his parents still have no information about where the boy could be.

Joshua Davis, Jr. was last seen February 4th of 2011.
Police searched several miles around his home but found no sign of him.
His father, Josh Davis, said police are "starting fresh" with the case.

"It's kind of hard, because I wonder why it's been so long. I wonder why
start over now? Why couldn't they have started over eight months ago?
Why couldn't they have started over two months ago?" he asked.

Davis said he's not giving up hope that his son will be found and returned
safely to the family. The toddler was 18-months-old when he vanished
from his home and has missed holidays with his family and the birth of his baby brother.

"I don't see how anyone could take someone's
child or withhold information about the disappearance of someone's
child. I feel like if you have information and you're not coming
forward, you're just as guilty, whether you played a part in it or not," Davis said.

There is a $20,000 reward for information leading to
Joshua's whereabouts. Call New Braunfels Police or Comal County Crime
Stoppers at (830) 620-TIPS with any tips.

http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/Missing-toddlers-parents-plea-for-information/-ZMTcb3Oy0qGwpkkfvIrzg.cspx

Police Re-Interviewing Parents, Others as 1-Year Mark in Joshua Davis Jr. Case Approaches

Thursday, January 26th, 2012



(New Braunfels, TX) -- It’s been nearly a year since the
disappearance of Joshua Davis Jr., a New Braunfels toddler that made
national headlines when he apparently vanished one cold night in early
February of last year.

And with that 1-year mark of his disappearance approaching, New
Braunfels Police are taking the opportunity to re-interview the boy’s
parents and others that were in the house the night he disappeared. New
Braunfels Police Captain John McDonald says that the mother and father
and 7 other family members and friends that were in their house the
night of the boy's disappearance are being interviewed again, some for a
3rd or 4th time.

In the first hours following the disappearance of the then 18-month
old toddler, it was thought that perhaps he had simply walked outside
and wandered into the rural area surrounding the home in the 26-hundred
block of Savannah Hill Circle. But after days of searching by ground and
by air, the investigation shifted to other theories, including
abduction, along with speculation that the parents of the toddler may
have been involved, in some way, in the disappearance. But, so far, none
of those angles have panned out.

Captain McDonald says that even though a year has gone by, work on
the Joshua Davis Jr. case never stopped. New Braunfels detectives, with
the continued help of the FBI and the Texas Rangers, still work on the
missing person case often, sifting through the volumes of information
collected over the last year.

Described
at the time as 2-feet tall, weighing 30-pounds, the 18-month old was
last seen wearing a blue and red long sleeve shirt, with a grey long
sleeve t-shirt, a beige and white onesy, jeans, and black and white socks.

If you have any information that could be helpful to the
investigation of his disappearance call New Braunfels Police directly at
221-4100 or call Crimestoppers anonymously at 620-TIPS.

http://kgnb.am/news/police-re-interviewing-parents-others-1-year-mark-joshua-davis-jr-case-approaches

Seven adults were present around the time Joshua Davis Jr. went
missing from his New Braunfels home last year. A New Braunfels police
official said Wednesday that detectives now believe that some of them
haven't told the truth about what happened that night.
The
18-month-old vanished the night of Feb. 4. Texas Rangers, FBI and
hundreds of volunteers scoured adjacent fields and pockets of dense
thickets near the subdivision where Joshua lived. It had snowed that
morning and there were fears that Joshua, who has asthma, was lost in
the dark. Neighbors' homes were searched.
But no body was found.
"There
were seven adults in the house that night, and several of them have
been less than truthful with investigators," New Braunfels police Capt.
John McDonald said.
McDonald would not say how many and which
family members police suspect didn't tell the truth and would not say
why detectives believe so.
He said that the department isn't ready
to solve the case but that new information, which he did not disclose,
suggests that Joshua may be dead .
Sabrina Benitez, Joshua's mother, said Wednesday that she doesn't believe it.
"I'm still believing and keeping faith that my little boy will be home," she said.
Benitez
said she and Joshua's father, Joshua Davis, have cooperated fully with
police since their son went missing. She said officers haven't told them
that they believe someone in the family was misleading them — she's
only heard it in news reports. Benitez said she thinks the police are
trying to wrap up the case but that there's no evidence to do so.
"They
have too much heat underneath them, so they're going to come to this
stupid little theory \u2026 that my son's dead," Benitez said. "I can't
tell them something I don't know, and that's what they want me to do."
She said she doesn't know what happened, but she and Davis suspect a man at the house that night knows more than he's revealed.
They haven't spoken to the man, who was a family friend, since last year, she said.
Neighbors have also speculated that there's more to the story than has been disclosed.
Gracie
Muñoz, a kindergarten teacher who lives with her family next-door to
the house from which Joshua disappeared, told the American-Statesman in
August that she doesn't think Joshua wandered off because of his calm
demeanor.
"I really think someone took him," Muñoz said. "I think he was taken by someone he knew."
Benitez
and Davis are living at her mother's house with their younger son,
Jeidan. He'll turn one later this month. Jeidan was born shortly after
Joshua went missing.
For months, the couple has put Joshua's face
on a billboard on Interstate 35, Benitez said, alerting drivers to his
disappearance and asking for help. She said they also put up posters
that say "missing" and ask people to call the police with any
information.
"We're still going to church. We're still praying. We're still believing," Benitez said. "You can only do so much though."
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/a-year-later-new-braunfels-police-say-search-2142100.html

NEW BRAUNFELS — A year after Joshua Davis Jr. vanished from his family's rural home, investigators say inconsistent and misleading statements by some of those present the night he disappeared are impeding efforts to determine the fate of the missing boy.

“There were seven people in the house, and some of them have been truthful and some have not,” said Capt. John McDonald of the New Braunfels police, who are being assisted by the FBI and Texas Rangers.

The boy's parents, Sabrina Benitez and Josh Davis Sr., say they've revealed all they know and are clinging to hope their son will surface alive.

“It's been a whole year of not waking up from a nightmare,” said Benitez, 22. “Not knowing where he's at, if he's alive, if he's being fed.”

No sign of the boy was found during a days-long search by dogs, drones and hundreds of volunteers around the southern New Braunfels residence, leaving police doubtful that the 18-month-old merely wandered off on Feb. 4, 2011.

“They searched my house three times,” said a neighbor who helped look for Josh. “We're paying more attention now to what goes on in our neighborhood, who's coming and going.”

Investigators theorize that Joshua was somehow injured that night and then removed from the house, McDonald said.

“Although we would love to find baby Josh alive, the investigation is pointing us toward a different theory, that the child most likely is deceased,” he said.

No one is being called a suspect or person of interest, he said, despite inconsistencies in the accounts of those at the mobile home that night.

Frustrated by what they see as a misplaced focus on them, the boy's family contends the key to the case lies with a visiting friend who left the home just before Josh was discovered missing, and who has cut off all communication except for relaying his condolences the next day.

“They keep insisting we know more than we've told them,” said Josh Davis, 24, who denies knowing about any injury to Joshua or his whereabouts. “I can't share information I don't have.”

He confirmed that police told him and his father, Jerome Davis, that elevated heart rates on their polygraph tests just after the boy vanished raised suspicions of duplicity.

“How would you feel if your child was missing for days?” asked Josh Davis, who offered to be retested. “I'll do anything and everything to get my child back.”

Jerome Davis, 58, is angered by police suspicions that he's concealing something about that fateful night at his home a year ago, which he denies.

McDonald said the friend that Josh Davis suspects holds the key to the case has “hired an attorney and done several interviews. The cooperation is there to a certain extent.”

Private investigator Charlie Parker, who briefly worked on the case for the family, subscribes to the theory that the boy was accidentally fatally injured — possibly run over by a car.

“Rather than call the police, I think they buried the body and I think the family knows where it is,” said Parker, who reported finding no blood or other evidence on vehicles he checked.

Calling the case his department's top priority, McDonald urged anyone with information about it to call 830-620-TIPS.

“I would rather someone call in a tip that we've heard 20 times than them not call in at all thinking we've already heard it,” he said.


Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/A-year-later-no-sign-of-Joshua-3041473.php#ixzz1lW3UIHfe