A MUM who claimed her daughter vanished in a park battered her to death before trying to revive her with a hairdryer, cops say.

Tiaundra Christon and her boyfriend Kenny Hewett are accused of fatally beating Hazana Anderson, 2, with a belt on October 19.

Christon initially claimed Hazana had vanished from her pram while she went to fetch a bottle during a trip to their local park in College Station, Texas, on October 28.

But police documents seen by KBTX say Hewett battered Hazana on the evening of her death while Christon went to fetch them food, "causing whelps to her legs, arms and face".

They claim that Hewett then told his girlfriend to join in the punishment, with Christon battering Hazana several times, before Hewett took over again.

On realising the toddler was unconscious, they took her to a bathtub in a bid to revive her, it is alleged.

The pair are then said to have attempted to reawaken Hazana with a hairdryer, but only succeeded in burning Hazana’s skin, according to notes taken during a police interview with Christon.

The mother, 21, was later arrested and charged with child endangerment and giving a false report to police.

Christon reportedly claimed to have put Hazana’s body in the trunk of her car for three days, before putting the toddler’s corpse in a trash bag, tying a rock to it and dumping it in a lake in Texas City, where it was discovered last Wednesday.

Police are using dogs and drones to search the area for clues.

An officer last night said the mum was arrested after parts of her story, such as when she arrived at the park, "didn't add up".

Police reports say the mum arrived at the park around 8am, then returned to her car to fetch a bottle for Hazana.

Two fishermen reported hearing Christon's distressed cries after discovering her daughter had gone.

Hazana is an only child and relatives said the pair regularly took walks in the park.

Police have also been seen dredging the lake.

Her dad, Brodrick Anderson, has joined the hunt for the missing tot.

The father, who is separated from the mum, told reporters he was feeling: "Terror, panic, confusion, worry, dread, resentment, just a lot of mixed emotions."

Her aunt, Velt Burns, said: "I just want her back. Wherever she's at, I just want her back."

MOST READ IN NEWS

Hazana was last seen wearing an olive green jacket, with a black "girl squad" shirt, cream trousers, pink shoes, and a purple beanie.

She also has a birthmark around her big toe on her left foot.

Neighbours last night held a candle lit vigil praying for her safe return.

Source: Read Full Article