Texas Father Blames Infant’s Fatal Injuries on ‘Allergic Reaction,’ Faces Capital Murder Charge
HOUSTON, TEXAS — A 27-year-old father is behind bars after investigators say he brutally killed his newborn son, then tried to explain away the baby’s fatal skull fractures as an “allergic reaction.” Police say Demari Alston is charged with capital murder of a victim under 10 years of age in connection with the 2024 death of his two-month-old son, Zayn Alston.
Authorities allege that Alston’s explanation—that swelling from an allergic reaction caused the child’s injuries—was a desperate attempt to cover up a horrific case of fatal child abuse.
Timeline of the Fatal Incident
According to investigators, Houston Police responded to Memorial Hermann Hospital around 7 p.m. on September 9, 2024, after the infant was brought in with catastrophic injuries including a skull fracture, brain bleed, and retinal hemorrhaging. Medical experts quickly determined the trauma was “highly concerning for physical abuse.”
Zayn’s condition deteriorated rapidly, and he was pronounced dead two days later on September 11, 2024.
Police said the baby had already suffered serious injuries when he was just 10 days old, prompting officials to place him in his maternal grandmother’s care. The parents, Alston and 22-year-old Trinity Nyomi Perez, were prohibited from being alone with the child or staying overnight.
Despite those restrictions, Perez admitted that she and Alston routinely spent full days with their son at the grandmother’s apartment. On September 8, she claimed Alston was alone with the baby when he said he “tripped” over his shoe while holding him.
Hours later, the child was in critical condition.
Father’s Attempt to Explain Away Injuries
When questioned, Alston allegedly told investigators that his son’s alarming condition was due to an allergic reaction.
“He may be having an allergic reaction causing everything to swell,” Alston reportedly said, according to the affidavit. “Because [Zayn] had not ever had problems breathing.”
He continued to insist he did not drop the baby or allow his head to hit anything. However, investigators found a series of deleted online searches from the night of the incident that appeared to tell another story.
Police say Alston searched for phrases such as:
- “2-month-old baby hard to wake up”
- “Does infant CPR really work?”
- “Will you go to jail if you find your child unresponsive?”
- “Best Houston defense lawyers child abuse cases”
The following day, detectives found another deleted search: “how to pass a lie detector test.”
Texts Reveal Troubling Pattern
Authorities uncovered several text messages between Alston and Perez that shed light on their son’s repeated injuries in the weeks before his death.
Perez once messaged Alston saying, “My baby shouldn’t have blood on his f**ing clothes.”* Alston responded that it was just a scratch from his long nails.
Perez accused him of being “too rough” with the infant, to which Alston allegedly replied, “I know I am rough.”
Other messages referenced a bite mark on the baby’s face. When confronted, Alston dismissed it as a reaction to tobacco, writing that his son “just got sensitive skin.”
Police say another set of messages—exchanged right before their interviews—showed the pair coordinating their story.
“Okay remember bumped head at around 5-6pm trippin over shoe but he was still active,” Alston texted Perez, later telling her to “delete thread… or just them messages.”
Arrests and Ongoing Case
Both parents were arrested, with Perez charged with injury to a child resulting in serious bodily injury, and Alston facing capital murder.
Court records show Alston is being held at the Harris County Detention Center on a $2 million bond. His next court date has not yet been announced.
Investigators say the evidence—including deleted searches and conflicting statements—points to a deliberate attempt to mislead authorities about the baby’s cause of death.
This heartbreaking case continues to highlight the importance of protecting vulnerable children and recognizing early signs of abuse. For more updates on ongoing investigations, local safety efforts, and human-interest stories from across Texas, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.