On April 14, 2016, four-year-old Zamiyah Taylor-Evans died at an East Memphis motel after being left in the care of her mother’s ex-boyfriend, 25-year-old Richard Lassister. The mother found Zamiyah unresponsive with cuts and extensive bruising; first responders were called but Zamiyah could not be saved. Reported injuries included a cut over the left eye and severe bruising to the face, chest, and back.

Police located Lassister at a nearby bus stop; he admitted to hitting Zamiyah, saying he struck her after she woke her younger brother. Lassister was arrested and indicted on two counts of first-degree murder in the perpetration of aggravated child abuse and aggravated child neglect and held on $1 million bond. The Shelby County District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit handled the prosecution.

Did anyone in the Memphis area have contact with Zamiyah or information about that motel stay on April 14, 2016?