Since our children are our most precious blessings, we take every care to keep them safe. That is the reason why the tragic tale of young Ava Ann Marie Tabor is so devastating. Ava was a cheerful, clever girl whose presence could light up any room, even at the tender age of two. She gave joy to everyone around her, and her family and community were permanently touched by her laughter and spirit. However, what transpired in early March 2025 following a horrifying incident completely upended the lives of a devoted family, leaving them with an unfathomable loss.
Ava was born on November 28, 2022, in Texarkana, Texas, and from the time she entered the world, she emanated energy and happiness. Her contagious smile, love for dancing, and helping in the kitchen were just a few of the qualities that made her so special. Her large sky-blue eyes were a constant source of wonder, and her parents, Kylie Marie Perez and Levi Landon James Tabor, loved her. Ava grew up in De Queen, Arkansas, where the family had made a life together full of love and joy.
But on a seemingly ordinary day in early March, everything changed. On that fatal day, Wesley Davis, then 19 years old, was watching Ava at a residence near Lockesburg, Arkansas. Something went horribly wrong during his time with her. At one point, Ava stopped responding, prompting Davis to call for help. Emergency personnel arrived to find the little girl in critical condition.
Davis reportedly later admitted to striking Ava. Sevier County Sheriff Robert Gentry reported that Davis had been taken into custody immediately after the incident. The news was welcomed with shock and astonishment in the local community—no one could fathom how someone could injure such an innocent and wonderful youngster.
Doctors at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock put in endless effort to save Ava when she was sent there. Despite their best efforts, the little girl’s injuries were too severe, and she tragically passed away on March 4, 2025, just a few days before her third birthday. Her family was left heartbroken, struggling to comprehend that their beloved child was taken from them so soon.
Kylie Perez, Ava’s mother, took to Facebook to express the depths of her grief and rage. In a heart-wrenching essay, she thought on the moments she would never get to enjoy with Ava again—bedtime routines, singing car drives, and the wonderful kisses she used to receive. Her sentiments echoed the awful loss every parent dreads. “Our final moment with our child… Never again will I get to do it. No more ‘momma c’mon,’ no more Ava kisses, no more baby affections. You took this from me, Wesley Davis. My world was taken by you.”
Investigators raised Davis’s charges from first-degree domestic battery to first-degree murder after Ava passed away. In addition to imposing a no-contact order that forbade him from speaking to the victim’s relatives, the judge put his bond at $1 million.
In her pursuit of justice for her daughter, Kylie Perez has not wavered. “My baby did not deserve this. Davis deserves everything that’s coming to him. And until he gets it, I won’t give up,” she said in a stirring statement.
The town of De Queen, along with the entire community, has been severely affected by this tragedy. Noting that Davis had received numerous threats of violence following his arrest, Sheriff Robert Gentry acknowledged the deep sadness and rage in the community. “There have been threats of death and physical harm against Mr. Davis,” Gentry said. Local officials have urged everyone to have faith in the legal system to handle the matter appropriately, despite the community’s intense feelings. “She didn’t deserve what happened to her, and we are going to do our best to see that the judicial system takes care of the one that harmed her,” sheriff Gentry said.
In a final act of compassion, Ava’s family made the selfless decision to donate her organs, ensuring that her life, though tragically short, would help others in need. The family hoped that Ava’s legacy would endure through the lives she saved, even though nothing could ever fully fill the void left by her passing.
A funeral ceremony to memorialize Ava has been arranged for Thursday, March 13, at Chandler Funeral Home in De Queen, Arkansas. A visitation will be held the evening before, on Wednesday, March 12, from 6 to 8 p.m.
The heartbreak felt by Ava’s family is indescribable. The grief of losing a child is a sadness that no parent should ever face. Ava’s death serves as a tragic reminder of how important it is to safeguard our children, to protect them from harm, and to cherish every moment we have with them.
We honor Ava Ann Marie Tabor for the happiness she brought to everyone around her, even as the investigation goes on and the community comes together in sorrow. She was worthy of a long, contented life full of laughter and love. Her premature death leaves a tremendous void in the hearts of her family, but they will continue to fight for justice in her name. May Ava’s family find solace in the treasured memories they had with her, and may she rest in peace.