4-month-old girl suffocated to death after her drug-addicted parents “shut her” in a dresser drawer because they wanted some “alone time;” parents charged
Texas – In a horrifying case that has shocked Texas, a 37-year-old father, identified as J. Fancher, and a 20-year-old mother, identified as D. Campos, are facing serious legal consequences a year after their 4-month-old daughter was found dead in a motel. According to reports, the drug-addicted parents shut her inside a dresser drawer to have some “alone time.”
Fancher and Campos were arrested and charged in connection to the death of their daughter, who was found unresponsive in May 2024 inside a motel dresser drawer where she had allegedly been placed to sleep. Investigators say the couple had been living at the motel for over a year before their daughter’s death. The medical examiner later determined the infant had died from suffocation.
Disturbingly, it wasn’t the first time the parents used the dresser drawer as a place to keep the baby. The baby’s maternal great-grandmother, identified as L. Simon, told reporters that the parents had placed the infant inside the drawer on multiple occasions. “They shut her in there when they wanted alone time,” Simon said.
Charging documents revealed even more harrowing details. Campos allegedly told investigators that Fancher would sometimes seal the drawer with a towel to prevent their daughter from kicking it open. While Fancher later claimed he had gone to the store and returned to find the drawer shut, Campos said she had been asleep and assumed the baby was with Fancher. The parents were also caring for their 1-year-old son at the time of the incident. Following the death, a motel housekeeper reportedly took photos of the baby inside the drawer and informed the motel’s management.
Campos was arrested on June 20, 2025, and booked into county jail, while Fancher was apprehended the next day and held in county jail. Both are facing serious charges related to the murder of their infant daughter. Additionally, Fancher’s current girlfriend, identified as M. Mork, was arrested and charged with hindering apprehension after allegedly helping him avoid law enforcement.
Sheriff E. Gonzalez commended the work of law enforcement teams across multiple counties and agencies for their dedication to the case. “Thanks to them, we are closer to securing justice.” The case has stirred outrage in the community, with many questioning why the parents weren’t charged earlier. “They have been living their lives like nothing ever happened,” Simon added. “They should’ve been charged with the drugs at the scene and held on those charges until the homicide charges were ready.”
Jail records show Fancher’s bond was set at $850,000, while Campos’s bond is $300,000. She is scheduled to appear in court today. Adding to the tragic complexity, court documents confirm that Campos is currently seven months pregnant with another child, fathered by a different man. As the legal process moves forward, authorities and child advocates are calling attention to the broader issue of child neglect linked to substance abuse. The case remains a chilling reminder of the vulnerability of children in unsafe environments—and the importance of timely intervention.
