Virginia mom charged with murder when son's remains found in car after 10 years

Photo shows Tonya Slaton. (Virginia State Police)

A Virginia woman was charged with murder after her son's remains were found in her car more than 10 years after he was last seen alive, according to documents revealed Tuesday.

Tonya Slaton, of Richmond, was indicted Feb. 1 in Hampton Circuit Court on a charge of second-degree murder in the death of her son, Quincy Jamar Davis, according to the indictment. The document alleges that Slaton killed Davis between July 24, 2004 and July 24, 2005. The Virginian-Pilot reported that Davis would’ve been 14 or 15 years old at the time of his death.

Davis' remains were found in June in Slaton's car when she was driving on Interstate 64. Slaton was pulled over by a Virginia State Trooper conducting a traffic stop when he noticed a strong odor coming from her car. Davis’ body was found in the back of her Ford Mustang, according to the paper.

The cause of death has still yet to be determined. Davis was never reported missing.

According to the paper, Davis, who would’ve been 25 now, was attending school in Virginia Beach but was withdrawn prior to the start of eighth grade.

Slaton has a long criminal history. She was convicted in 1997 of misdemeanor assault and battery for injuring her son when he was 6-years-old. Slaton was sentenced to no jail time on the condition of good behavior for six months, according to the Virginian-Pilot.

Slaton was charged with domestic assault and battery in 2012, but it’s unclear where the case was filed, who the victim was in the incident and whether Slaton was convicted, the paper reported.

In 2008, she was convicted in Hampton Circuit Court of felony attempted maiming and shooting at an unoccupied home. She was sentenced to four years in prison.

Slaton is expected to be arraigned on the murder charge next week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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