How Dante Daniels an eight year old Sacramento boy came to die after being beaten to death by his mother’s ex-boyfriend, Deandre Chaney Jr with a hammer.
Dante Daniels an eight year old California boy has died after he was beaten to death by his mother’s ex boyfriend while trying to protect his younger sister from molestation.
The boy’s beating on the morning of September 1 came after Dante was attacked by 23 year old man Deandre Chaney Jr with a hammer at his mother’s South Sacramento home.
According to a filed criminal report, Chaney Jr was engaged in the crime of committing a lewd act on Danae, Dante’s seven year old sister.
It wasn’t immediately clear what led to the ex boyfriend sexually assaulting the child and whether there had been prior instances of abuse.
Preceding the attacks, the ex-boyfriend in the early morning hours of September 1, circa 4am called up his ex, 28 year old woman, Elizabeth Salone asking for a ride. The woman agreed, proceeding to bring Chaney Jr back to the home from a nearby apartment complex.
At some point, Salone asked Chaney Jr to look after the children while she went to drop her brother off for work circa 5.30am. It was during this time and the mother’s return 6.10am, the attack occurred according to Sacramento Bee.
Dante Daniels’ mother returns to find crying from one of the rooms:
Told Dante’s grandmother, Monique Brown via KFVS 12, ‘Trying to save his sister from this child molester, and that’s why he was beat the worst.’
Adding, ‘This guy beat my grandson with a hammer. Down to his spine. They couldn’t save his brain,’
‘Dante gave his heart to a 4-year-old In Southern California, so a 4-year-old lives because of [him].’
A police report told of the suspect using a hammer and knife on Danae, as well as their mother, Elizabeth Salone, who had gone to check up on the children after hearing crying from one of the rooms.
Salone incurred three blows to the head, leaving her in critical condition. Chaney Jr is alleged to also have used a lighter fluid, threatening to torch Salone after tying her up.
Both mother, sister and Dante were left for dead by Chaney Jr, who took Salone’s car keys, cell-phone and money and fled.
Neighbors told police dispatchers that ‘a large amount of blood’ was seen inside the home.
Dante was declared brain dead following the attack and died six days later.
The boy’s death came just days after having started third grade at Oak Ridge Elementary School.
Dante Daniels hailed a hero, trying to protect his younger sister.
Both his sister and mother survived, but Brown has said that her daughter won’t be able to see out her left eye and Danae will need a lot of help.
And the grandmother believes her little one is a hero, even after death.
‘Dante gave his heart to a 4-year-old In Southern California, so a 4-year-old lives because of [him],’ Brown added.
Upon his capture the following day, Chaney Jr was charged with murder and attempted murder charges, and now faces a charge for lewd acts with a child under 14.
According to the Sacramento Bee, Chaney Jr has a long criminal history. In October 2016, he pleaded no contest to a charge of failing to register as a sex offender. In 2014, Chaney Jr pleaded no contest to a charge of felony battery with serious bodily injury and in 2011 he pleaded no contest to a charge of assault with a deadly weapon.
His criminal record also includes charges for robbery and rape in 2007, forced oral copulation in 2008 and lewd acts with a dependent adult as a caretaker in 2009.
A Gofundme has been set up to raise money for the family.
