Dad charged with capital murder in death of 19-month-old daughter; what happened to the mother of this child? (Lancaster, Texas)

Is DANIEL ANDRE THOMAS a single or custodial father? Notice that after the death of the daughter, "his two other children" are now in foster care. What happened to the mother? In cases of violent death, it is important to follow up on why Mom is "missing." Did the abuser strip her of custody? Is she deceased? If so, do we know for a fact that it was from natural causes? What?

http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/2014/07/lancaster-father-charged-with-daughters-death-worked-for-city-of-dallas.html/

Lancaster father charged with daughter’s death worked for city of Dallas

By Tristan Hallman 12:12 pm on July 25, 2014

A Lancaster man accused of killing his 19-month-old daughter was a city of Dallas employee and has been fired, the city’s spokesman said Friday.

Interim city spokesman Shawn Williams said Friday that Daniel Andre Thomas, 34, was terminated from his job in the city’s Park and Recreation Department. City records show that he had worked for the city since 2008.

Lancaster police arrested Thomas on Wednesday and charged him with capital murder of a child under the age of six. He is being held in Dallas County jail in lieu of $1 million bail.

In a 911 tape obtained by The Dallas Morning News, Thomas can be heard saying his daughter Aaliyah fell while playing.

Lancaster police spokesman Lt. Kelly Hooten said Thursday that Thomas’ story didn’t add up. Aaliyah died of blunt force trauma, according to the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s office. Her death was ruled a homicide.

Thomas had no apparent criminal history in Dallas County (he did have a pair of misdemeanor theft charges in Harris County years ago) and no Child Protective Services history of abuse. His two other children, ages 6 and 8, are now in foster care, a spokeswoman said Thursday.

Few other details are available. Thomas declined a jailhouse interview with The News on Friday, and Dallas County still apparently had not received the arrest warrant affidavit from Lancaster police as of Friday morning.

Aaliyah Thomas’ death is the 20th suspected domestic violence homicide in Collin, Dallas, Denton and Rockwall counties this year.