In a terrible case that has stunned Texas, a 37-year-old father, J. Fancher, and a 20-year-old mother, D. Campos, are facing major legal penalties a year after their 4-month-old daughter was discovered dead in a motel. According to reports, the drug-addicted parents locked her in a dresser drawer for some “alone time.”
Fancher and Campos were arrested and charged in connection with their daughter’s death in May 2024, when she was discovered unresponsive inside a motel dresser drawer where she was allegedly placed to sleep. According to investigators, the couple lived at the motel for more than a year before their daughter died. The medical examiner later determined that the infant had died of asphyxia.
Surprisingly, the incident was not the first time the parents had used the dresser drawer to keep the infant. The baby’s maternal great-grandmother, L. Simon, informed reporters that the couple repeatedly placed the infant inside the drawer. “They shut her in there when they wanted alone time,” Simon told me.
The charging filings disclosed even more terrible details. Campos allegedly told investigators that Fancher would occasionally close the drawer with a towel to keep their daughter from kicking it open. Fancher later said he went to the store and returned to find the drawer closed, but Campos claimed she had fallen asleep and assumed the baby was with him. The parents were also looking after their one-year-old son at the time of the event. Following the tragedy, a motel housekeeper apparently photographed the baby inside the drawer and notified the facility’s management.
On June 20, 2025, authorities arrested Campos and booked him into county jail, while they apprehended Fancher the following day and held him in county jail. Both are facing criminal accusations for the murder of their young daughter. In addition, Fancher’s current girlfriend, M. Mork, was detained and charged with obstructing apprehension for allegedly assisting him in evading law enforcement.
Sheriff E. Gonzalez praised law enforcement teams from numerous counties and agencies for their commitment to the case. “Thanks to them, we are closer to securing justice.” The case has sparked indignation among the community, with many questioning why the parents were not charged earlier. “They have been living their lives like nothing ever happened,” she said. “They should’ve been charged with the drugs at the scene and held on those charges until the homicide charges were ready.”
According to jail records, Fancher’s bond was set at $850,000, and Campos’ bond is $300,000. She is due to appear in court today. Court documents reveal that Campos is seven months pregnant with another kid, fathered by a different man. As the judicial procedure progresses, officials and child advocates draw attention to the larger issue of child neglect linked to substance usage. The story is a chilling reminder of children’s susceptibility in dangerous environments—and the significance of prompt action.
