Army sergeant now fights for custody of son

By Stephanie Sanchez / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 04/12/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT

The parents of 2-year-old Milayna Harris, who police say was beaten and killed late Monday by her godparents, arrived in El Paso from overseas and are now fighting for custody of their 4-year-old son.

The preschooler, Jailen Harris, who allegedly also was abused by his godparents, was reunited Thursday with his father, Army Sgt. Earl Harris III. He is divorced from the children's mother, Sheree Harris, who is also a soldier.

Earl Harris was serving in Iraq when he was called and told about his daughter's death. He traveled more than two days to get to El Paso -- where he had never been before -- and now is battling his ex-wife over funeral arrangements for their daughter and custody of their son.

"My son hasn't asked for his mom, yet. He asked for his sister," he said. "He's asking to go to the park to watch Pokémon."

Late last year, Jailen and Milayna Harris were placed with Army Staff Sgt. Nakia J. Dawkins and Shawntrell Dawkins, while Earl Harris and his ex-wife were stationed overseas. The Dawkinses have been arrested and charged with capital murder and injury to a child in the slaying.

"We got a divorce last year in September, when I was on my way to Iraq," Earl Harris said, adding that Sheree Harris was due in Germany last October. "I asked her if the kids could go stay with my parents. She said no."

Attempts to contact Sheree Harris were unsuccessful Friday.

The children were supposed to have been placed in the care of Sheree Harris' aunt in Dallas if both parents were sent overseas, according a negotiated family- care plan, he said.
Lt. Col. Les Melnyk, a Department of Defense spokesman in Arlington, Va., said that when children are left behind because of their parents' deployments, the Defense Department requires a family-care plan. The plan must include all paperwork that a temporary custodian of a child would need to care for that child.

"It is a requirement that dual- military couples have a family-care plan. The Army will tell you this as well," Melnyk said.

Earl Harris said that although the original plan was to have his children say with their aunt, he knew the children were going to stay with the Dawkinses, but only for one month. Sheree Harris, he said, was going to go to Germany, get situated and come back for their children.

But the children's return to her kept being delayed, he said.

Shawntrell Dawkins contacted him in late November to tell him that Sheree Harris had not picked up the children, he said.

"Mrs. Dawkins e-mailed me and said the kids were with her. ... From my gathering, it seemed the kids were OK," he said. "But you never know how people really are. One person could be one way, but when the doors are closed, another way."

Earl Harris said he and Sheree Harris met the Dawkinses about four years ago while they were stationed in Germany.

"They were friends. ... I never agreed to them being godparents," he said. "That is something my ex-wife came up with."

Monday around 11 p.m., a call about a child-welfare check was placed from inside the Dawkinses' home at the Arbor Vista Apartments, 7900 Viscount. Shawntrell Dawkins told police that Milayna had fallen down several stairs inside the apartment, according to a police complaint affidavit.

But when Milayna was taken to an undisclosed hospital, medical officials said her injuries were not consistent with a fall. Jailen also showed signs of physical abuse, a police complaint affidavit stated.
Preliminary results of an autopsy of Milayna's body showed she died from "blunt trauma to the head," but details about all her injuries were not available Friday from El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office.

Dr. Juan U. Contin, a county medical examiner who conducted Milayna's autopsy, concluded her "manner of death is homicide," according to autopsy results.

"I got to see my daughter, but that was not my daughter. My daughter would have never have had a bruise. She was loved," Earl Harris said. "My son has bruises on him, and I have to see it every time I bathe him. He was never this skinny. He has bruises, scratches, whip marks."

Chris Mears, El Paso Police Department spokesman, said investigators recovered a belt from inside the Dawkinses' apartment that had markings matching some injuries and bruises on the children.

Nakia J. Dawkins and Shawntrell Dawkins were arrested by police Tuesday. Each was charged with one count of capital murder and one count of injury to a child. Both are jailed without bond.

"I tried to talk to (Sheree Harris) last night, but I just couldn't do it. I hold all three of them accountable," Earl Harris said. "These people should have never done anything like this. To take a child's life -- words can't even describe that."

Earl Harris said that funeral arrangements for his daughter were pending, and that she would probably be buried in Killeen, Texas, Sheree Harris' hometown. He said he is trying to get full custody of his son.

Sheree Harris "is mad because I have Jailin. But my son will never get hurt again," he said with a firm voice. "No one will ever touch my son again."

Stephanie Sanchez may be reached at ssanchez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6137.
El Paso Times reporter Tammy Fonce-Olivas contributed to this story.

Father of toddler beaten to death devastated - El Paso Times