Texas Mom Texted ‘Dangerous’ Boyfriend Before 3-Year-Old’s Death, Both Face Capital Murder Charges

A Texas mother and her boyfriend have been charged with capital murder after investigators allege her 3-year-old son endured weeks of abuse before his death.

Chelsea Berg, 30, and Christopher Alexander, 30, were formally charged this week after Berg’s son, Dawson Zamora, died on Sunday, Dec. 7, according to CBS Texas.

The investigation began on Oct. 14, when Alexander brought the unresponsive boy to Medical City McKinney. Medical staff at the hospital told police that the child had serious injuries inconsistent with Alexander’s explanation that he heard a thud from another room, per the outlet.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by PEOPLE, Dawson had severe brain trauma, bleeding in the brain, bruising in various stages of healing across his body and anal trauma.

Berg told detectives she left the home at approximately 7:20 a.m. that day, leaving Dawson in Alexander’s care before work. She said she received a message from Alexander after lunch saying he was panicked and taking the boy to the hospital, per the affidavit.

When Berg arrived, Alexander allegedly told her he did not have an explanation for what happened. According to the affidavit, he retained an attorney at the hospital and refused to speak with detectives.

Detectives showed Berg photographs of Dawson’s injuries, and she was adamant he did not have those injuries when she left for work that morning, the affidavit states.

During the investigation, authorities obtained warrants for Berg and Alexander’s cellphones and found numerous messages discussing bruises and injuries to Dawson in the month leading up to Oct. 14, per the affidavit.

In one text, Berg wrote: “You’re reckless. He had progressively been getting more and more hurt with you!!! Leave me alone!! I’m not blind. You’re DANGEROUS.”

The affidavit also includes earlier messages Berg sent Alexander on Sept. 18:

• “Let’s hope [Dawson] isn’t ever left alone with you, he probably wouldn’t survive”
• “You being in my life is quite literally a threat to [Dawson]”
• “100000% serious. You bruise him, hurt him, and cause damage every single time you are alone with him.”
• “Chris, no. I overlooked the bruising on [Dawson] knowing it could have happened at school but now this???… I cannot believe you. You really don’t care that you can get my kids taken away from me due to YOUR negligence. ABSOLUTELY NOT.”

Berg and Alexander were first arrested in October on charges of injury to a child — a first-degree felony — the affidavit states.

Alexander was also charged with tampering with evidence.

After Dawson’s death on Dec. 7, however, prosecutors upgraded the case to capital murder.

Berg was arrested again Monday, Dec. 8, on the new charge, while Alexander — who has remained in custody since his October arrest — is now also charged with capital murder, according to CBS Texas.

Dawson’s biological father, Dahrian Zamora, confirmed his son’s death in a social media post, writing that the boy “held on to spend one last birthday” with him before his death. Dahrian said Dec. 7 is his birthday, and “[Dawson] refused to go until then.”

“My son didn’t have to die, this could have been prevented. He should have been protected and now he was murdered. My THREE YEAR OLD MURDERED and I’m left carrying this and I don’t know where to go from here. I’m at a loss of words so please keep my daughter Harper and I in your prayers as I come up with a way to navigate all of this,” the post continued.

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Priscilla Moore, Dawson’s great-aunt, previously wrote in a GoFundMe campaign that her “family’s world [has been turned] upside down.”

“Dawson was tragically abused by his mother’s boyfriend, leaving him with severe, life-threatening injuries. He has already undergone emergency treatment, and doctors expect him to be hospitalized for many months as he begins the long journey of healing—physically, emotionally, and mentally,” she wrote before the boy’s death.