‘We haven’t had justice’: Mother Charged in 2021 Death of Her Toddler Son Still Has No Trial Date
San Antonio, TEXAS – The prolonged wait for justice prevails in San Antonio as more than three years after the gruesome discovery of 18-month-old James Chairez’s remains, no trial date has yet been set for D’Lanny Chairez, the toddler’s mother who is charged in her son’s death. Despite scheduled court hearings, the discussions have barely progressed beyond conferencing with the defense attorney.
Mother Charged With Injury To A Child
D’Lanny Chairez has been formally charged with injury to a child – intentionally or knowingly causing serious bodily injury. The sluggish pace of judicial proceedings has elicited concerns from the Chairez family who have been relentlessly advocating for justice for baby James.
“The wound doesn’t heal because justice for baby James is still awaited,” shares Marisol Benavidez, the toddler’s aunt who reported James missing in 2021 after losing contact with D’Lanny and her son. Expressing her concern, she shared that D’Lanny had previously alluded to giving James away, a claim that sparked alarm and prompted her to take action.
The Search For Baby James and The Arrest
Following the missing person’s report, a frenzied search lasted three months for the mother and son. D’Lanny Chairez was eventually located and apprehended in March 2021, but James was nowhere to be found. A month later, revealing a horrifying end to the search, James’ remains were discovered underneath a mobile home where they previously resided.
Subsequently, D’Lanny was sentenced to five years in prison as part of a plea deal on a tampering with evidence charge. On the same day, she was indicted for inflicting an injury to a child. From then on, the case appears to be stuck in a state of immobility.
No Plea Deals, Demands Justice
Despite recent indications from the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office that a plea deal could be under consideration, Benavidez stands firm in her demands for a full trial. “I honestly believe that life-long imprisonment is the only just punishment,” she stated. But seeking trial also represents the fear that James’ story might be buried beneath the plea deals.
“James’ story needs to be heard for the simple reason that we’re losing too many children in the world right now because their stories are crushed under plea deals,” argued Benavidez. By insisting on a trial, she hopes to reveal the full extent of James’ experience and even inflict a semblance of the pain she experiences on D’Lanny.
Awaited Justice
For now, the family continues to wait, hope intact, for the day justice is served for baby James. “I don’t know what that justice will look like,” admits Benavidez. “But it must include her taking responsibility and facing due punishment — and that, for me, means a life sentence.”