A YOUNG couple are accused of torturing their newborn son from the time he was just ten days old – before the baby died months later from horrific injuries.
Two-month-old Zayn suffered repeated beatings and fractures before his death last year.
Demari Ossain Alston, 27, is now charged with capital murderInstagram/yelllabarbie
His partner 22-year-old Trinity Nyomi Perez faces charges of felony injury to a childHouston Police Department
Hospital staff told investigators the injuries were consistent with severe physical abuse, not an accidentHouston Police Department
Demari Ossain Alston, 27, has been charged with capital murder, while his partner, 22-year-old Trinity Nyomi Perez, faces felony injury to a child.
Investigators say the abuse began in mid-July 2024 – just ten days after Zayn was born – when he was first rushed to the hospital with a fractured arm, ribs, and collarbone.
Doctors immediately flagged the injuries as possible abuse, triggering a probe by Houston police and child protective services.
Court records say Zayn’s maternal great-grandmother was assigned by CPS to monitor him, and Alston and Perez were told not to see their baby for two weeks, FOX local affiliate KRIV reported.
The couple was later permitted limited visitation at the end of July, but by early September, the infant was back in the hospital, this time with brain bleeding and swelling.
Zayn died on September 11, 2024, just three days after being admitted, with doctors describing a “soft brain,” skull fracture, and bleeding behind his eyes.
Hospital staff told investigators the injuries were consistent with severe physical abuse, not an accident.
Detectives allege Alston fatally assaulted his son while he was left alone with the baby inside the couple’s Houston apartment on the day of his final hospitalization.
Perez reportedly told police she was in the apartment but distracted on her phone when Alston claimed he had “tripped” while holding the child.
She insisted Alston was a “good dad” and denied domestic violence, but couldn’t clearly explain Zayn’s previous hospital visits.
Alston told investigators the baby was suffering from an allergic reaction that day and said he “tripped over his shoe,” claiming the infant didn’t hit his head or cry.
Police said his explanation didn’t match the medical findings – and when they checked his phone, they found a chilling trail of internet searches.
Among them were: “My baby won’t wake up but he is breathing,” “2 month old baby hard to wake up,” and “What happens if your 2 month old doesn’t have a pulse?” Daily Mail reported.
He also looked up, “Does infant CPR really work?” and “Will you go to jail if you find your child unresponsive?” before later typing, “My 2 month old died is anyone getting charged.”
Child Abuse & Infant Homicide Trends
In 2023, US child protective services received about 4.4 million referrals for suspected abuse or neglect.
Of those, 546,159 children were confirmed victims of maltreatment, a 2% decline from 2022.
States and territories reported 1,968 child abuse–related fatalities in 2023 (Massachusetts did not provide data).
Infants in their first year of life make up a disproportionately large share of child homicides, with about 52% of infant homicides occurring at 3 months age or younger.
Texas’ 2024 child fatality report shows continued high numbers of abuse- and neglect-related deaths in the state.
Source: The Imprint, Texas Department of Family & Protective Services
Detectives said he even searched, “Best Houston defense lawyers child abuse cases” – and later, “How to pass a lie detector test.”
Investigators said Alston waited 39 minutes between making the disturbing searches and calling 911.
Messages recovered from the couple’s phones show them trying to coordinate their story after the incident.
Alston allegedly texted Perez, “Okay, remember bumped head around 5-6 pm tripping over a shoe, but he was still active,” according to the Daily Mail.
Perez’s phone also contained texts in which she questioned Alston about the blood and scratches on Zayn and accused him of being too rough.
Police said videos on their phones showed Alston taunting the baby, telling him to “fix his face” and asking who he was looking at.
Court documents say medical findings revealed a hypoxic brain injury, swelling and multiple hemorrhages – along with a left parietal skull fracture.
An autopsy ruled Zayn’s death a homicide due to blunt force trauma to the head, torso, and limbs as the cause.
Alston’s bond was set at $2 million, while Perez remains charged with a lesser count linked to the abuse.
Two-month-old Zayn suffered repeated beatings and fractures before his death last yearGoFundMe
Police said videos on their phones showed Alston taunting the baby, telling him to “fix his face” and asking who he was looking atInstagram/yelllabarbie Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
