MISSOURI CITY, Texas — The discovery of skeletal remains behind a local church in Missouri City has resolved the disappearance of 61-year-old Karen Miles, who had been missing since August 22. Authorities have identified Davante Clark, 28, as the prime suspect in the case, charged with capital murder following the devastating confirmation of Miles’ death by gunshot.
Last week, behind a church nestled in a forested area near where Fuqua Street meets the Fort Bend County Toll Road, an investigation team uncovered human bones. The remains were later confirmed through forensic analysis to be those of Miles, leading to a chilling conclusion to her disappearance early last month.
The investigation took a complex turn when Pearland police arrested Clark, initially for driving what appeared to be a stolen vehicle from Arkansas. Further probing revealed the vehicle was owned by Miles, and the license plate had been tampered with to disguise its origin. The vehicle is believed to have been taken from the Missouri City apartment complex where Miles resided.
Miles’ family, unfamiliar with Clark, struggled to understand the connection between him and the victim. The critical breakthrough came from Clark’s girlfriend during an intensive police interrogation. She was located after detectives listened to her jailhouse conversations with Clark, which linked her directly to the events surrounding Miles’ disappearance.
The girlfriend recounted to investigators that after moving to Missouri City from Arkansas in July, both she and Clark experienced homelessness and lived out of her car. She explained their frequent stays at the parking lot of Hometowne Senior Living Apartments, where the well-lit conditions provided a sense of security. On the morning of August 22, she witnessed Clark spontaneously run towards an SUV and drive away, only to return later.
Using license plate reading technology, detectives established that her vehicle trailed the SUV to the remote location where Miles’ remains were later discovered. This connection has intensified suspicion around Clark’s motives, particularly about the possible intent to steal Miles’ vehicle.
Miles’ loved ones expressed profound grief and bewilderment at the necessity of her killing. “There was no need for that. If he would have asked her for whatever he wanted, she would have given it to him,” said Patricia Evans, a family member. The disregard for Miles’ dignity in death was especially harrowing for her family, who lamented the inhumane manner in which she was discarded.
As the legal proceedings take shape, Miles’ family anxiously awaits justice and their opportunity to confront Clark in court. The emotional weight of the tragedy was palpable as family members voiced their distress and determination to face the accused. “I want to look at him. It’s inhumane, and he will probably have no remorse,” Evans shared, illustrating the depth of their anguish and quest for closure.
Further complicating Clark’s criminal profile, Texas EquuSearch referenced him as a person of interest in two other cases involving stolen vehicles connected to missing individuals. One such case is that of Destin Henderson, missing since October 2023. Henderson’s relatives have long suspected Clark’s involvement, given the prior connection between Henderson and Clark.
With previous legal run-ins including evading arrest and unauthorized use of a vehicle, Clark’s criminal history suggests a pattern of behavior that law enforcement and the community are painstakingly piecing together in the broader investigation of his activities and associations. As the case unfolds, both the community and the victims’ families hold onto hope for answers and accountability.