2023-02-21 Harper
Death of Eva Salene Diaz
| Date | February 21, 2023 |
| Location | 500 block of West Central Avenue, Amarillo, Texas, United States |
| Victim | Eva Salene Diaz, aged two months |
| Accused | Ashley Kay Harper, aged 19 |
| Charges | Injury to a child; later murder |
| Alleged act | Blow to the head with a hand |
| Arrested | February 21, 2023 |
| Murder charge filed | February 28, 2023 |
| Court proceedings | Indicted for murder; competency evaluation requested |
| Outcome | Not provided in available sources |
The killing of Eva Salene Diaz, a two-month-old girl, occurred in Amarillo, Texas, in February 2023. Eva’s mother, 19-year-old Ashley Kay Harper, was arrested after the child was found dead at a residence in the 500 block of West Central Avenue. Harper was initially charged with injury to a child, and the charge was later upgraded to murder.[1][2]
Death and investigation
At approximately 6:25 p.m. on February 21, 2023, officers with the Amarillo Police Department responded to a report of an infant not breathing at a home in the 500 block of West Central Avenue. Eva was dead when emergency responders arrived.[1:1][2:1]
The department’s Homicide Unit investigated the death, as it routinely does in cases involving deceased infants. Based on evidence collected during the initial investigation, police arrested Harper on suspicion of injury to a child. She was booked into the Potter County Detention Center that night.[1:2]
According to a criminal complaint cited by KVII, Harper struck Eva in the head with her hand. The station also reported that Harper admitted responsibility during police questioning.[2:2] These claims were allegations contained in the criminal proceedings and had not, at that stage, been proven at trial.
Murder charge
Following further investigation, authorities obtained a warrant charging Harper with murder on February 28, 2023. Her bond was set at $750,000.[1:3][2:3]
The Amarillo Police Department later clarified that the charge had been changed through a warrant and that Harper had not yet been indicted when the initial announcement was made.[3] A grand jury subsequently indicted her on a murder charge.[4]
Competency proceedings
After the indictment, defense attorney Mike Warner requested an evaluation of Harper’s competency to stand trial. Warner reportedly filed the motion after speaking with Harper’s family about her childhood and mental capacity.[5] The filing represented a request for a professional competency determination and did not itself establish that Harper was legally incompetent.
Legal status
The supplied reports document Harper’s arrest, murder charge, indictment, and the defense request for a competency evaluation. They do not provide the final disposition of the case.
References
KFDA, “Amarillo woman arrested for murder charges of 2-month-old death,” March 1, 2023. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
KVII, “Mother charged with murder of 2-month-old daughter.” ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
“Amarillo mom, 19, faces murder charge in baby's death,” archived March 3, 2023. ↩︎
KVII, “Amarillo mom indicted for murder in death of her infant daughter.” ↩︎
KVII, “Attorney questions competency of Amarillo mom charged with infant daughter's murder.” ↩︎