After almsot 16 hours of deliberation over two days, a Brazos County jury found Dana Munyon not guilty of Injury to a Child. I only was able to watch a few minutes of the case so what I know is limited to what was in the media and what I picked up from talking to people at the Courthouse.
Long story short, on April 3rd of last year, then 14 month old Alexis Verzal was dropped off at Ms. Munyon’s daycare. The media has repeatedly said that she had run an unlicensed daycare of several years. I have no idea what the licensing process to run a day care is, and if it’s even illegal to run one without a license. But that’s neither here nor there. At some point during the day, Alexis was rushed to the hospital with bleeding in the brain. According to the paper, to this day she’s unable to walk, speak or use one of her arms. It’s a tragedy and sounds like one of those cases where nobody wins.
The State claimed Munyon was responsible.
Multiple doctors who treated the child testified that Alexis suffered from head trauma that they believed was caused minutes before Munyon called 911.
Prosecutors Shane Phelps and Kara Comte made no attempt to prove what happened inside the house, but suggested that Munyon had to be the cause of the injuries because she was the only adult there.
Munyon testified that the child collapsed while being placed on a blanket on the floor.
As evidenced by the result, the jury felt differently. The jury was first deadlocked at 7-5, then 10-2, then 11-1 before the not guilty verdict came back around 7:30 last night. When I heard the jury was at 10-2 then 11-1, my gut said they were getting closer to a conviction. Clearly, I should not go into the business of picking juries, or horses.
And as you can probably imagine, the case has generated quite a bit of media attention and controversy around town. And nowhere was that more evident than in the comments section of The Eagle and KBTX. There are plenty of people who “KNOW” that Ms. Munyon is guilty and this is a miscarriage of justice. With these people, who are able to read a story in the paper and no whether a person is guilty or not, who needs the jury system anymore. A sampling of comments.
Rene Munyon knows what she did and her judgement day will come. She not only severly injured a child, she also lied on the stand several times. The jury let her get away with a terrible crime. We know that at least 5 of them changed their votes from guilty to not guilty. They took the easy way out. It’s a shame justice was not served. Alexis has permanent brain damage because of what Rene did. She doesn’t get a second chance.
…She was not proven not guilty; she just wasn’t proven guilty. There is a big difference. I do know her parents and know that they did not hurt their daughter. Rene admitted in court that Alexis was normal the morning of April 3, 2008 when they dropped Alexis off at Rene’s home. Medical evidence shows she did not fall. She was shaken and then thrown. Rene knows what happened that morning. It’s too bad she lied on the stand before her peers and before God. Justice was not served yesterday. How lucky Rene is to now be able to go on with her life when Alexis and her family are left to suffer for the rest of their lives. Justice was not served yesterday. If Rene has a conscience, she will at least feel remorse and guilt for the rest of life. Then her judgement day will come and God will be the judge.
I stand by what I said. Yes, the verdict was not guilty but that doesn’t mean she didn’t do it. She did. I know she did. The doctors know she did. The Verzals know she did. God knows she did.
How can she be proven not guilty. When she knows what she did was wrong, along with the family of the little girl, knows that she did that too their little girl. At least the little girl is a miracle child and a angel from God, that God has provided lil Alexis comfort, and a lenghty healing process.
I was at the trial every day and think that this was probably the dumbest group of 12 people they could have ever put together for a jury. Apparently you can’t get away with murder in Brazos county but you can get away with hurting children. Just sad. The jury and defendent will have to live with their actions. They both know in their hearts that what they did was wrong.
I can not believe she got away with that! And that you people are siding with her. The Verzals were at work when they got the call that their baby was being life-flighted to Temple. Why don’t all of you supporters leave your children with Renee Munyon? Mine will NEVER be 10 feet near her.
im in shock how this woman got out of this its crazy this goes out to the so called law put your self in this baby’s shoe this baby went threw something terible with no one to help her this is what i call ya a joke so who protect’s us family i advice this is your baby i would fight it do it for her my prayers are with you
I was at the trial daily and also believe the 12 jurors have to be the most incompetent people around. Hey jury & all you Renee followers – if you have kiddos Renee has openings!!
Yup. Who needs juries when you’ve got these people that know what happened.
