I am Maya

On September 28, 2022, while her mother was at work, Maya was left alone in the care of Michael Daymond — a man her mother had only recently started dating. That afternoon, Maya suffered catastrophic head injuries. Maya was rushed to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where despite the best efforts of emergency services she later died. The bruises on her small body had shown that Maya had suffered head injuries caused from been violently shaken and this was not an accident - this was a fatal act of abuse.

 

This wasn’t the first time Maya had been hurt. In the weeks leading up to her death, bruises began to appear all over her face and body. Maya's father James Chappell and his family members raised concerns to authorities but Maya’s mother, Dana Carr, repeatedly lied — claiming Maya was "nipping herself" or "walking into things." Instead of seeking help, Dana pulled Maya out of nursery so the injuries wouldn’t be seen and she continued to take Maya to the doctor for unrelated issues, carefully dressing her in clothes that hid the bruises.

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Daymond, inflicted the injuries on Maya over several weeks when he was alone with her. He would message Carr, 24, while she was at work with a series of lies to cover up his horrific behaviour. Carr did nothing to stop her daughter getting hurt, instead she was sending messages to Daymond saying she loved him and wouldn’t leave him — even as she knew he was hurting her child.

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As paramedics and police carried out CPR, Daymond, who had rung Carr before dialling 999, was on the phone in another room concerned that his Universal Credit payments had been stopped.

Daymond and Carr were sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on Friday, December 22. 2023.

• Michael Daymond, 27, was found guilty of murdering Maya and of child cruelty.

• Dana Carr, 24, was found guilty of allowing her daughter’s death and neglect.

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The jury heard how Daymond inflicted injuries over several weeks. He never explained what happened. He never showed remorse. Dana Carr knew. She saw the bruises. She had chances to act. But she did nothing.

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Detective Superintendent Chris Barker, of Durham Constabulary led the investigation said:

“Maya Chappell died at the hands of someone who should have been caring for her. Maya was defenceless. She was two years old and should have felt safe at home, learning, playing, and having fun but instead she lived in constant fear of what Michael Daymond was going to do to her next. She was too young to be able to tell anyone of her suffering and her mother Dana Carr who knew about the bruises but failed to act. Daymond thought he could get away with causing her pain by feeding those around him repeated lies and excuses. Eventually he killed her. But his cowardly unwillingness to admit what he did means we may never know why he killed Maya or exactly

what went on in the weeks leading up to her death. What we do know is Maya didn’t deserve to die.”

In the wake of this tragedy, Maya’s family are fighting to ensure no other child suffers as she did. Maya’s Law calls for stronger protections, earlier intervention, and accountability for adults who ignore signs of abuse. 

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If you see signs of neglect or abuse, don’t stay silent.

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• Call the Police on 101, or 999 in an emergency

• Contact your local children’s social care team

• Reach out to the NSPCC: www.nspcc.org.uk

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