A Fort Dodge man charged with two counts of murder allegedly killed his sister and her one-year-old in Ames.
Markasia M. McCuddin, 26, and her son Liam Sanders-McCuddin were found by Ames Police around 9 p.m., Friday, March 13, each with multiple stab wounds. They were pronounced dead on scene.
Police arrested and charged Davontrez R. McCuddin, 22, of Fort Dodge, Markasia M. McCuddin’s brother, with two counts of first-degree murder after allegedly finding him “covered in blood” in an upstairs apartment.
The Ames Police Department identified the mother and child in a press release on Monday, March 16. Court documents identified Davontrez McCuddin as Markasia McCuddin’s brother.
Witnesses said Davontrez McCuddin allegedly stabbed his sister “numerous times” shortly before officers arrived on scene, according to court documents.
Davontrez McCuddin was previously wanted for attempted murder in a Fort Dodge shooting in January.
Ames Police Department spokesperson Maj. Dan Water said the investigation is still ongoing,
“We have no idea what led to this terrible tragedy,” Water said. “That is something we will continue to investigate.”
Neighbors report ‘active stabbing’ in Ames apartment building
Ames Police say they fielded several calls for an “active stabbing” in an “access” hallway at the Windsor Pointe Apartments on Friday night, according to court records.
Davontrez McCuddin was allegedly armed with a knife and yelling “you’re dead” at his sister, according to a criminal complaint. Police officers found the woman “suffering from numerous stab wounds” to the head and neck.
Officers found the woman’s one-year-old on the second floor of the apartment hallway, also suffering from multiple stab wounds. Both the child and his mother were pronounced dead on scene.
Officers allegedly followed a trail of blood to the third floor of the apartment building, where they found Davontrez McCuddin. He was allegedly covered in blood with a deep cut on his hand.
Tara, Markasia McCuddin’s neighbor, told the Ames Tribune on Monday, March 16, that she heard Markasia McCuddin say “My baby, save my baby” before she died.
Tara, who used to babysit for Markasia McCuddin, said she was “beautiful, smart and outgoing.” Tara said Markasia McCuddin’s son was “all smiles, full of cheer. Just learned how to walk but wasn’t talking yet.”
Davontrez McCuddin is a suspect in Fort Dodge shooting
Davontrez R. McCuddin is also allegedly tied to a January shooting in Fort Dodge.
Police officers found Demontray Dungy with gunshot wounds to his chest area and upper arm, shortly after 12 a.m. on Jan. 4 in Fort Dodge.
Dungy told officers that he and his girlfriend were sleeping when they heard a loud bang at the door, according to court documents. Dungy said he was “immediately shot” by a male when he answered the door.
Dungy allegedly identified the shooter as “Trez,” who FDPD officers knew as Davontrez McCuddin, according to a search warrant application.
Davontrez McCuddin is being held on a $3 million bond in the Story County Jail. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 25.
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Man charged with murder allegedly killed sister and her baby in Ames
Reporting by Celia Brocker, Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
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