In a significant case unfolding in Jefferson County, Texas, Jalen Javon Lewis faces serious charges related to the death of three-year-old King Dewey. The indictment alleges that Lewis intentionally or through omission caused severe bodily injury to the child by failing to provide necessary medical care. This incident reportedly occurred on May 31, 2022, when King was found unresponsive in a converted apartment in Port Arthur, Texas.

During the opening statements of the trial, the prosecution painted a grim picture of King’s life, describing him as having been abandoned by his mother and left in the care of Lewis and his adult sister, Kirsten Lewis. Evidence presented in court suggests that King, who was born with Down syndrome, experienced significant weight loss and seizures in the weeks leading up to his death. The prosecution highlighted text messages between Lewis and his sister that referenced these alarming health issues.

The prosecution also accused Lewis of locking King in a closet frequently, further exacerbating the child's dire situation. It was only after King’s death that Kirsten Lewis called 911, despite the child's previous health crises. When first responders arrived, they noted that Jalen Lewis was present but did not engage with them and left the scene under the guise of going to work, only to evade law enforcement for nearly a month before his arrest on June 29, 2022.

As the trial progresses, the court will examine the evidence surrounding the tragic circumstances of King Dewey's life and death, with implications for accountability in cases of child neglect and abuse.