Jealousy May Have Been Motive

POSTED: 5:35 pm CDT April 6, 2005
UPDATED: 6:31 pm CDT April 7, 2005

James Dalton Powell, 20 months old

HOUSTON -- The biological mother of a severely abused baby boy told Local 2 in an exclusive interview Friday that she never agreed to let the caretaker accused in his death adopt him.

Theresa Ann Blount, 36, was charged with capital murder in the death of 20-month-old James Dalton Powell. On Wednesday, Blount was found screaming in a northeast Houston street with Powell's limp and traumatized body in her arms. Renee Powell, who is pregnant with her fifth child, lives in Livingston. She cried as she recalled the last time she saw her baby Wednesday morning.

"I dropped him off at (Blount's) mom's and I kissed him good-bye and I told him I loved him," she said. "I've got a lot of anger toward (Blount). I thought I could trust her."

Powell said she has relied on friends to care for James because she has moved from place to place after a recent breakup.

Police said five women took turns caring for the baby. At a news conference, officers were critical of Powell's parenting, but only Blount is facing charges. "We just don't have a whole lot of nice things to say about the environment the child came from. I can tell you that that little guy, he never really had a chance," said Sgt. Mark Newcomb of the Houston Police Homicide Division.

Detectives learned more about the final months of Powell's life.

"The biological mother was not very patient with children. She couldn't handle babies for more than 15 minutes, 30 minutes. As soon as she had the baby, she would send him off to someone to take care of him," said Detective Tony Huynh of the Houston Police Homicide Division.

Police said Blount talked about adopting the boy with her common-law husband.

He bragged to neighbors about the boy, which lead investigators to consider a possible motive for the murder.

"Theresa Blount has been somewhat possessive of her husband and we can only theorize that maybe, with this child coming into their lives through this adoption, that this child is taking her husband's attention and affection away from her and towards the child," Newcomb said. The baby had massive skull injuries from possibly being thrown against the wall or furniture, as well as wounds all over his body. Sexual abuse was ruled out.

Police said Blount was alone with the child Wednesday afternoon and she was drunk when she ran into the streets with the dead boy in her arms.

"I want her to go to jail and I want the death penalty," Powell said. "I do. I hate to say it, but I want the death penalty for her. I want to be the one to do it because she had no reason to take my innocent son out of this world."

Blount told police that she heard a loud thud in the bathroom about an hour after arriving home with the baby Wednesday. Blount is scheduled to appear in court Monday.

Police are still investigating the other four caretakers.

A funeral fund has been established for James Powell. Donations can be made at the First National Bank in Livingston.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/4354186/detail.html

Emphasis added by H4K Editor