Mom Pleads Guilty to Role in Daughter's Death, Allegedly Beat Toddler With Hairbrush

A Texas mother has pleaded guilty in connection to her role in the death of her 2-year-old daughter.

Sahara Ervin, the mother of Maliyah Bass, pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence, the body of the child. She was also charged with injury to a child after allegedly beating her daughter with a hairbrush and making her sleep in a closet.

As part of her plea deal, Ervin is now expected to testify against her boyfriend, Travion Thompson, during his currently unscheduled trial. If she agrees to testify against him, she will face up to 20 years in prison for her role in the child's death. However, she could face a life sentence if she refuses.

Bass was reported missing on August 22, 2020. According to local news station KPRC-TV, the couple told police that Ervin left Bass at their apartment complex's playground for five minutes. When Ervin returned after cooking, she and her boyfriend indicated that the child was nowhere to be found, with Ervin saying she thought her daughter was kidnapped. However, a local activist who spoke with the couple was skeptical of the story.

"Who kidnapped the child? Was she ever kidnapped? We don't know yet, but it doesn't pass the smell test," local activist Quanell X said to KPRC, noting that he was concerned about the poor living conditions within the apartment itself. "No responsible parent would leave their child on the playground like that for five minutes knowing it's a high crime area and shut the door behind them."

Maliyah was found dead the next day in Brays Bayou, with documents alleging that the couple had killed the girl and dumped her body in a nearby storm drain. Whether Ervin has confessed to these events remains unclear.

"Right now, I just want to bust out crying but I'm trying not to," said the 2-year-old's father, Octavious Bass, to local news station KHOU 11. He believes that Ervin's plea deal was not harsh enough for what she is accused of. However, he understands why her plea deal is as low as it is.

"I really don't like that she's getting 20," Bass was quoted by KHOU 11, "but I don't have no choice but to be OK with it because they're saying that's the maximum she can get because she testified against him. It's either you did it or he did it or both of y'all did it. So you might as well tell the truth."

A jogger spotted the child's body in Brays Bayou just southeast of the University of Houston and about 17 miles (27 kilometers) west of Maliyah's home.

Medical examiners ruled the death a homicide.

Thompson, who remains jailed, is scheduled to appear in court on January 11.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.