Father Charged With Capital Murder

KIRBY, TX —Five years after he violently shook his six-month-old baby, the Kirby Police Department has charged the child's father with capital murder.

According to KSAT, back in 2015, Rex L. Hollins told police he had shaken his 6-month-old son named Zane. He then confessed to slamming him into a swing because he wouldn’t stop crying.

After the incident, doctors told authorities that Zane had suffered head bleeding and a broken rib and leg. According to police, Zane was never the same and required constant care.

In 2019, Hollins was convicted of child abuse and sentenced to serve three years in prison. He was released in July and placed on probation.

In June of this year, Zane was found dead inside his home. According to the medical examiner’s report, his death was caused by complications of remote blunt force head injuries. His death was ruled a homicide. Subsequently, Hollins was charged with capital murder.

According to Sgt. Michael Alonzo, it is rare for a murder charge to be brought down years after the victim survived the original incident,  but it can happen.

“It’s very possible (if) somebody sustains injuries, and then several years later, they die as a result of those injuries,” said Alonzo. “Yes, that person can be held responsible for that person’s death simply because you can state that that person would not have died if he or she did not incur those injuries at the time of the original assault.”

Alonzo also reminded families that child abuse happens every day and can be avoided if parents and caretakers take a moment to cool off when they feel frustrated.

"Take a break. I mean, we all have our breaking point, unfortunately, and we see it way too often in the news. And kids, unfortunately, suffer, you know, for no reason whatsoever other than to just cry.”