In a disturbing case emerging from Richmond Hill, a man and a woman have been indicted on severe charges involving violence against a child. Davien Reid Sr., the stepfather, faces attempted murder and assault among other charges for a reportedly vicious attack on his 8-year-old stepson, prompted by accusations that the child ate designated brownies. The boy's mother, Dayanara Vargas, is charged with assault and endangering the welfare of a child in a separate incident, according to the Queens District Attorney's Office.
The boy suffered life-threatening injuries including fractures to his neck and back, multiple internal injuries and had to be hospitalized for three weeks following the incident on April 24, 2024, District Attorney Melinda Katz detailed in an official statement that the prosecutors will seek justice for the unspeakable cruelty inflicted on the child, who had to wear a cervical collar for about five months and during his stay in the hospital needed feeding tubes. The brutality did not end there, with the child reportedly being forced to lick his own vomit off the floor after the beating administered by Reid.
The mother, Vargas, is also accused of hitting her son with a broom in November 2023, resulting in head trauma that necessitated medical staples - and lying about the cause of the injury to healthcare professionals. Justice Gia Morris has ordered both Reid and Vargas to return to court on April 11. If convicted of the charges, Reid could face up to 25 years in prison while Vargas could face up to seven years.
Assistant District Attorney Brianne Richards, of the Special Victims Bureau, is leading the prosecution under a multifaceted supervision team. After the 911 call and the child's hospitalization, all the children in the home were placed into care, with the alleged abuse being part of an ongoing investigation that led to the indictment.
