Third Suspect in Quitman Murders Extradited to Wood County

QUITMAN — A third suspect wanted in connection with the murder of two East Texas toddlers has been extradited back to the Wood County Jail. According to KETK, Dalton Lee German, 22, of North Little Rock, Arkanas, was arrested Thursday, November 20, in Pulaski County, Arkansas. He faces charges of injury to a child, a second degree felony. He was extradited back to Wood County December 5. Police said German was a friend to the mother, Daphne Elizabeth McDaniels, who has been charged with capital murder in the death of her daughters, Gabriella Guerrero, 3, and Natalye Price, 1. According to the autopsy, the girls died from blunt force trauma to the head.

Authorities were first alerted to the situation on Thursday, July 24, when German, a neighbor, called Quitman Police to report two children who were not breathing and would not wake up. Multiple witnesses told officers that Thomas Liles, 19, of Quitman, was seen running from the Dogwood Villa Apartments where the two deaths occurred. They also saw the man throw a “large item” into a dumpster near the building. The items were consistent with having come from the children’s apartment, said police. Chief Cole stated Liles was taken into custody by one of his officers for tampering with evidence a week later.

Child Protective Services spokeswoman Shari Pulliam said their agency previously investigated the children’s living conditions.