Houston - Tina Davila, 39, left her 4-month old in her car as she ran into a Cricket store to pay her phone bill. As she got out of her car, a gold Taurus pulled up beside her and a man got out, ran up behind her and stole her keys. Tina pleaded with the man to not steal her car, as her baby was inside, and fought to get her keys back from the man. The man then stabbed Tina to death.
These two men had been on a small crime spree before they attempted to steal Tina’s SUV. 5 minutes earlier, the same two men had stolen beer from a nearby convenience store, and a check on the license plate showed that the vehicle had been stolen from another city. Investigators are trying to find the stolen 2002 gold Ford Taurus with Texas license plate No. P42 CYY. Both men are considered armed and dangerous.
I posted this story, simply because of the video. You can see the majority of the incident happen in the video, which really just shows just how quickly something like paying a Cricket bill can turn into a life-or-death struggle in a matter of seconds.
62 responses so far ↓
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1
Piper
Apr 17, 2008 at 2:13 pm -Lazy (dead) woman. You never leave a baby unattended. I’m not saying I don’t think this was tragic, but come on… I have a 4-month old and I always drag him with me even though it isn’t as quick. If the baby wasn’t in the car I bet she wouldn’t have put up as much resistance- now she’s dead and where’s the baby??
2
Piper
Apr 17, 2008 at 2:22 pm -oh- it helps if I watch the entire clip- so the baby is with family members- all that and they didn’t even take her car!
3
Becca
Apr 17, 2008 at 2:22 pm -That is just freaking tragic. I agree it wasn’t the best decision to leave the baby in the car, but it might not have made a difference. These losers were hell bent on stealing another car and could have just as quickly hurt her anyway as she was distracted getting the baby carrier out of the car.
4
Lizard
Apr 17, 2008 at 2:24 pm -Didn’t look like the baby was ever unattended–from the video, it appears that mom could have seen the car clearly from inside (if she’d every managed to make it through the door), and I’m betting she locked the car doors.
That newscaster has purty hair!
5
Kathy
Apr 17, 2008 at 2:24 pm -It doesn’t look like she was that far out of the car. Even if she had stopped to get her baby out, she would have still been unstrapping her/him from the seat by the time these asshats got to her.
I don’t think the outcome would have been much different unfortunately. I don’t see any need in calling a dead woman lazy. She’s pretty much paid for her mistake with her life.
6
carol13
Apr 17, 2008 at 2:28 pm -It is sad, but Piper is right. I have NEVER left any of my children in the car alone. It’s something you just don’t do. Yes, it’s a pain to get three kids out of a car (while they are all still in car seats) to run in to pay for gas, but I do it. Too much can happen in a second, as this story points out, to leave your children unattended. I admire the mom for fighting for her baby like she did, she gave up her life and maybe saved her child’s. Not everyone would have done that. We have seen amber alerts with stolen cars containing children. She made a bad choice in leaving the baby, but she fought to the death to save her.
7
Morbid
Apr 17, 2008 at 2:29 pm -The way they came up on her like that, you can almost guarantee that they followed her because of the vehicle she was driving. They would have been right on top of her had she stopped to take her kid out, just as Kathy stated. The result would have probably been the same as I doubt a carjacker on a crime spree who had no issues stabbing a mother in broad daylight, would have stood there patiently as he waited for her to unbuckle her kid.
My issue wasn’t as much the fact that she left the kid, but more on just how something as mundane as paying a cell phone bill turns into getting stabbed to death in about 3 seconds. Not that I wasn’t aware of that already, but just to see it on video.
8
carol13
Apr 17, 2008 at 2:31 pm -they probably would have gotten to her before she had the baby all the way out, but possibly she could have stepped away with her child and let them have the car, no one will ever know.
9
Piper
Apr 17, 2008 at 2:35 pm -I honestly think that if she had been in the process of getting the baby out she wouldn’t have struggled. Then they may not have escalated to the point of stabbing her. You’re right she did a noble thing to sacrifice her life for her child but it may not have needed to happen. I guess it doesn’t matter now- horrible thing to have happen but at least the baby is ok.
It is NEVER ok to leave a young child alone in a car-even if you can see them, even if the doors are locked.
10
Kathy
Apr 17, 2008 at 2:40 pm -Yeah, but she probably still wouldn’t have been fast enough for them. Still getting stabbed and maybe hurting the baby in the process too.
11
Angel
Apr 17, 2008 at 2:47 pm -How horrible! I hope they catch the assholes who did this - and cut their fucking throats.
12
mg2
Apr 17, 2008 at 2:50 pm -http://media.myfoxhouston.com/.....b0000.html
New pic of the attempted carjacker.
13
mg2
Apr 17, 2008 at 2:54 pm -if you click on the arrows above the pictures you can actually see one going into the convience store and stealing the beer.
14
mom of 4
Apr 17, 2008 at 3:05 pm -Tried to play the video but it says it’s no longer available.
15
sagermom
Apr 17, 2008 at 3:38 pm -Piper, you’re an asshole. A woman dies fighting for her baby and you make a comment like that, pretty shitty. These men attacked her as she was going in, so coming or going, they were going to get her. People like you are shit. No respect for anyone. A baby has no mom and and you only have a negative comment for her - you’re a piece of shit.
16
Unamused Cat
Apr 17, 2008 at 3:39 pm -Has been on the news all day. So sad.
17
LL44
Apr 17, 2008 at 4:35 pm -I agree Sagermom… Piper, that’s just low. I bet if she had been getting her baby out of the car she would’ve struggled MORE as the car door would’ve been open making her AND her baby vulnerable. I would’ve fought my ASS off in that case.
And call the cops on me if you like, but I leave my 2 kids in a locked car if I run into a store if I can park directly in front & have an unobstructed view of my vehicle. I do not think that makes me a bad mom.
18
sagermom
Apr 17, 2008 at 4:46 pm -I’ve left my daughter in the LOCKED car too as long as I can see her the whole time. If you are in eyes view it’s ok - otherwise, might as well make them get out of the car when you’re pumping gas too - same thing. I’m so sick of people judging moms - that woman was obviously a single mom on her way home from work, probably exhausted - leaving her baby in the car for one minute with an unobstructed view does not make her lazy. So Piper’s comment just pissed me off, how little respect - totally uncalled for.
19
Piper
Apr 17, 2008 at 4:58 pm -It is illegal to leave a child unattended in a car in Texas (where this occured). See http://ggweather.com/heat/laws.htm Check on your state- it may be illegal there too.
The law does indicate a timeframe of more than 5 minutes- but how do you know how long a task will take? Wouldn’t it be better safe than sorry?
I don’t mean to sound cruel (and I apologize to anyone I may have offended) but we don’t know if her trying to get the child out of the car could have altered the situation’s outcome because she didn’t try.
20
carol13
Apr 17, 2008 at 5:08 pm -sagermom, it’s not the same thing to have them out of the car while you are pumping gas, there’s a big difference between standing next to your car and going all the way into a store. I can see that this touches a nerve with you, piper’s comment may have been a touch harsh, but if the men had broke out a window and stolen the car with the baby in it while mom was in the store, rather than wrestling mom for the keys, everyone would be blasting her for leaving her baby in there. She died, and nobody thinks that was deserved. Everyone feels terrible that the mother is dead, I’m sure.
21
Piper
Apr 17, 2008 at 5:10 pm -Thanks Carol 13 for puting the correct words to feelings I obviously couldn’t convey!
22
sagermom
Apr 17, 2008 at 5:11 pm -Did you watch the video? Just how do you think she could have tried to get the child out? He followed her to the door and attacked her and she fought for her life until he stabbed her to the ground! During that time she was pleading “I HAVE A CHILD IN THE CAR” - so not sure when you think she had time to try. They pulled up 1 minute after she got out of the car -even if she had started to get the baby out of the car rather than start to go into the store, they still would have pulled up next to her and fought her for the car - so the point here is that a woman is dead and it doesn’t matter what the hell the circumstance was, she didn’t deserve to die or have a disrespectful thing said about her. She was a mom, and now a 4 month old baby has to be raised by someone else because 2 loser thugs killed a single mom. So maybe you could save your disrespectful comments for the LOSERS that killed her rather than pass your judgment on a dead young innocent victim. And yea, your comment was HIGHLY OFFENSIVE.
23
Piper
Apr 17, 2008 at 5:28 pm -Sagermom- are you trying to be argumentative? You stated that the attacker followed her to the door and after pulling up 1 minute after she did- I have 2 young children under the age of 5 (one in a booster seat and another in a car seat) and as soon as I get out of the car I attend to them. Perhaps (please entertain this idea) if the mother had been getting the baby out of the car instead of entering the establishment the outcome may have been different. My guess is that the attackers were emotionally charged and not understanding what she was saying- merely reading her pleading as objections to them stealing the car. When people are in psychologically challenging situations comprehension is diminished. I do NOT excuse what they did and I hope they catch them and prosecute to the full extent of the law but I would also like this tragedy and others like it to be avoided in the future. Perhaps people may think twice about leaving their children unattended in a car (not pumping gas, for Christ’s sake) while running into a store next time.
24
sagermom
Apr 17, 2008 at 5:41 pm -Not argumentative at all. Someone who will stab you to death in cold blood doesn’t give a shit if you’re taking your kid out of a car seat or pleading for your life. I really don’t care if she was in the store or down the street. My whole point is your total disregard for her life. Entertain this: If I was that woman’s mother, and I heard you call my DEAD DAUGHTER lazy after just being brutally murdered, I’d probably beat the living shit out of you. So you’re mising the point. I don’t know you, I could care less about what you do with your children. I’m just pissed you could be so callous as to comment on her after what has happened. A woman is dead and a baby left motherless. I found this site while googling all I could on this woman to send her family a card - coming across your disgusting and heartless post was icing on the cake. Nothing you say will make me think differently of you. Hopefully, you’ll never be faced with 2 thugs stabbing you to death to leave your children motherless. You should be ashamed for your statement. End of story.
25
Piper
Apr 17, 2008 at 5:50 pm -The quote by Albert Einstein at the top of this page is very appropriate. I think people who close their minds to other’s opinions are the reason things do not change. Sometimes we need to get emotional if we want to affect change in our world. Sending a card to the family is a very nice thing to do but if my callous remark made one person stop and read this post and then perhaps alter their behavior (not leave their child unattended) next time then I may have done something greater than just send a card. And of that I am not ashamed.
26
sagermom
Apr 17, 2008 at 5:53 pm -Of course you’re not - someone who could say something so awful about a woman just stabbed has no reason to be ashamed.
27
eyezblue
Apr 17, 2008 at 5:55 pm -GO SAGERMOM!!!!!
PIPER,UR AN ASS!
28
Piper
Apr 17, 2008 at 5:58 pm -Get over it. You’ve called me names, swore at me and put me down. Can’t you see I’ve got a point? Or are you only able to retort with childlike tauntings? Don’t you get it? A mother is dead and it MAY have been preventable. It has nothing to do with what I wrote. You’re channeling your anger at me when you’re angry at the futility of the situation. Grow up, everyone is entitled to their opinion and I’ve not put you down for airing yours, please reciprocate.
29
sagermom
Apr 17, 2008 at 6:10 pm -No, you don’t get it, that was NOT preventable - these losers would have killed her REGARDLESS of the situation - pulling the baby out of the car or being 5 feet away. THEY are the ones to be called names here, not her. My anger is THEM, my disgust is in your comment.
30
crunchieapple
Apr 17, 2008 at 6:23 pm -The bars on the windows in the Cricket Store and in the Check Cashing place next door (just the fact that it is a Check Cashing place) tells me that this was in a really bad part of town…and the desolate strip mall too.
That Car Jacker didn’t need to STAB the woman. They were probably following her and waiting for her to pull in someplace. That CREEP jumped out of the car right away…and was planning on attacking her.
It’s just too sad and tragic!
31
swivel
Apr 17, 2008 at 6:34 pm -Well-said.
Does Piper remind you guys of anyone?
32
mg2
Apr 17, 2008 at 6:43 pm -My family is from Houston, this is a bad part of town. I would not leave my child in the car, especially in a neighborhood like this. It is so sad that in 3 seconds this mother lost her life. I do not think it would have made a difference if she was taking the baby out of the carseat when they drove up, they had already targeted her. If she was driving home instead of the Cricket store they still would have followed her and attacked her at her home. There really was nothing she could have done. If she had still been in the car then maybe she could have called 911 but that is unlikely as she was probably at the cell phone store to top up.
33
mg2
Apr 17, 2008 at 6:50 pm -Picture of the mother…
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/my.....geId=3.2.1
34
Miss. Hill
Apr 17, 2008 at 6:54 pm -I wouldn’t leave my baby in the car , especially in a bad part of town. I have left my 11 year old with my 3 year old when I have paid for gas, and even that made me nervous.
I think her judgement was poor, I do not think in this case, after watching the video she could have prevented it.
35
carol13
Apr 17, 2008 at 6:58 pm -who swivel?
36
Athena
Apr 17, 2008 at 6:59 pm -Good god, Swivel. Do people really not stroke your ego enough that you feel the need to do it yourself, so often? Absolutely fucking shameless.
As for the little debate going on, here, I think Kathy said it best. No, we cannot say for sure that things would have happened differently, but, we can certainly say that it’s unlikely that it would have had any effect whatsoever.
On a side note, something somewhat similar happened to a friend of the family, Pam Basu, back in ‘92. In fact, you probably heard about it. She was traveling in her car with her child in the backseat when she was carjacked at a stop sign. In trying to fight to reach her child in the backseat, she got tangled in the seatbelt and dragged to her death. Story
I remember the call my mom got from my aunt in Bethesda that day. So much bad news comes via the telephone…I’m surprised I own one anymore.
37
carol13
Apr 17, 2008 at 7:01 pm -there was supposed to be a comma in there
38
swivel
Apr 17, 2008 at 7:03 pm -Nobody does it better than I do.
*stroke…stroke…stroke*
Goddamn, that feels so fucking good.
See if you can do it any better. I don’t think you can…
39
carol13
Apr 17, 2008 at 7:06 pm -LOL swivel, have you been baiting this woman all day?
40
Athena
Apr 17, 2008 at 7:11 pm -Actually, since about June would be more accurate, Carol.
41
carol13
Apr 17, 2008 at 7:15 pm -haha, and see here I thought I had found a new like mind….it’s just swivel
42
swivel
Apr 17, 2008 at 7:17 pm -Who, Athena? I’ve been baiting her for MONTHS.
She goes back and forth between lusting after me and hating my guts. Today is one of the latter, I suppose…
Besides, her assumption was wrong. I was thinking that Piper comes across like Impqueen. Offensively honest, but polite to a fault.
43
TexasMist
Apr 17, 2008 at 7:17 pm -Being a mother of a young child and driving a vehicle that size, I feel the need to comment on this one: I keep my child restrained in the back passenger side of my SUV. This is the only way I can see her while I’m driving.
From what I’ve seen, most parents that have cars this size, do the same thing. That being said, if she did this, also, she would have had to walk around the front of the vehicle to take her baby out…. Therefore, the outcome would still be the same.
The dumbfucks that attacked this woman are cleary the ones that are at fault here.
44
Athena
Apr 17, 2008 at 7:21 pm -She goes back and forth between lusting after me and hating my guts. Today is one of the latter, I suppose…
Stop it, already. You’re in a public place. Other people can see this.
Besides, her assumption was wrong. I was thinking that Piper comes across like Impqueen. Offensively honest, but polite to a fault.
I don’t buy it. Precedence has been set.
45
swivel
Apr 17, 2008 at 7:32 pm -*stroke…stroke…stroke*
46
Angel
Apr 17, 2008 at 7:51 pm -LMAO! Y’all are insane! I knew there was a good reason I love you people so much…..
47
ImmortalOne
Apr 17, 2008 at 11:42 pm -Okay… For one… I have to agree. The mother was wrong to leave the baby in the car. That was poor judgment on her behalf. For the record, I work for a company that has a payment machine for customer bills, and often there is a line that is longer than a few “seconds” to pay. And this is a simple machine that people just feed bills/check/credit cards into. She had no way of knowing how long it would take to complete her transaction, thus simply stated she should have brought her baby in with her. Period. There is no reason not to.
Secondly, from the video it does appear she had to have been followed. The guy reacted too quickly, she didn’t even reach the door before being attacked. Had she been getting that child out of the car it is likely that the child would’ve been placed in danger as well (obviously). It is a lesson that we all should be checking our surroundings repeatedly as we travel through this fucked up world.
I don’t even pump gas in my car unless my 15 yr old or my husband are with my baby (I will drive home on a nearly empty tank and make him take the car to put gas in it if I have my baby). I have Fibromyalgia, and even to lift the baby’s car seat is painful and difficult for me, just from a car to a building/house. However, I will do what I need as a parent to make sure my baby is taken care of properly. I don’t care if it is 10 seconds in a store that takes me 30 seconds to free her car seat from the base. There is no reason at all for her to have left that baby. None.
48
swivel
Apr 18, 2008 at 7:02 am -You set a very fine example. Kudos.
49
Athena
Apr 18, 2008 at 10:31 am -Man, when I was a little kid, I got left in the car all the bloody time. Now, I don’t know about infant status, but when I was like, 5 and stuff, my dad would even joke about it. Before he left the car to go in somewhere, he’d turn around in his seat, pat me on the leg and say, “I’ll be right back. Bark if anyone comes.”
Sadly, no one ever came. I was looking forward to using my wicked barking skills.
50
Kathy
Apr 18, 2008 at 10:37 am -LMAO!!
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