Husband says wife routinely abused grandchildren before 11-year-old’s death in Scottsdale

PHOENIX — The husband of a woman accused of murder in the death of her grandson said she routinely abused the child and another grandchild before the 11-year-old’s death in Scottsdale on Sunday, according to court documents.

Stephanie Davis, 51, and Thomas Desharnais, 33, were charged with first-degree murder and two counts of child abuse after the 11-year-old boy was found unconscious in a bathtub in a room at the Extended Stay America in Old Town. The child was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Davis, who called 911, told police that the child had been “hurting himself” all day, a claim disputed by Desharnais in a post-arrest interview, according to police.

Desharnais told investigators that Davis had become increasingly physically and mentally abusive to the two children over the past 2-3 months, court documents say.

Desharnais said he witnessed Davis strike the 11-year-old and the other child, a 9-year-old, with various items on multiple occasions, causing bleeding and bruising.

The day before the child’s death, Davis allegedly hit the 11-year-old with a metal ratchet at least three times in the head while he was naked in the bathtub, according to court documents.

Desharnais said he gave the child paper towels to clean his wounds and eventually provided towels and blankets since he was sleeping in the bathtub, court documents say.

The 11-year-old boy would be forced to sleep in the bathtub about four days a week to avoid getting blood in the hotel room, Desharnais told investigators.

On the day of the child’s death, Desharnais told police that he and Davis heard “whimpering” from the bathroom.

Davis found the child lying in a fetal position on the right side of the bathtub, which was stained with blood, according to court documents.

First responders, upon arrival, said they removed a half a liter of water from the child’s body when trying to save his life.

An examination of the children revealed multiple lacerations, cuts, abrasions and bruises over their bodies, court documents say.

The couple and the two grandchildren lived in the room at the hotel since 2019, but Desharnais told police that Davis’ behavior had become more violent recently as retaliation for Davis’ belief that the children’s mother was involved in the death of her son.

Davis had sole custodial rights to the children since 2015. Their mother is considered a homicide suspect, court documents say.

Davis is being held on a $3.5 million cash bond, while Desharnais is being held on a $1.5 million cash bond.

Both suspects will next appear in court on Monday.

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