McKINNEY, Texas — The tiny 3-year-old boy at the center of a heartbreaking abuse case, Dawson Zamora, has died, his father confirmed — and the criminal charges against his mom and her boyfriend have now escalated as investigators dig deeper.
In a deeply emotional public statement, Dahrian Zamora revealed his son passed away on December 7, at precisely 10:42 a.m. — a date that coincidentally marks his own birthday. He said Dawson “held on to spend one last birthday with me” and “refused to go until then.” It was a farewell that turned into a devastating blow. He described his grief as “profound and unimaginable,” vowing to speak out now to prevent speculation as the case advances.
“I’m 31 years old having to bury my three-year-old son,” he said. “We shouldn’t have to bury our children.” He called the loss “my first experience with death,” adding that he and his daughter — Dawson’s sibling — are leaning on each other and the community for support.
What’s known publicly so far paints a horrible picture: On October 14, Dawson’s mother, Chelsea Berg, reportedly left him under the care of her boyfriend, Christopher Alexander. That same afternoon, Alexander brought Dawson to Medical City McKinney hospital, claiming he had heard a “thud” and discovered the boy unresponsive. Medical staff, however, determined the injuries — including severe brain trauma, a brain bleed, widespread bruising in various stages of healing, wounds to the chest and abdomen, and trauma to his lower body — did not line up with a simple accident.
Text messages featured in the arrest affidavit suggest Berg had suspected abuse well before that day. On Sept. 9, she allegedly texted Alexander about bruises on Dawson’s face and jaw, calling him “dangerous.” Later, on Sept. 18, she wrote that the child was getting hurt every time he was left alone with Alexander. Despite those warnings, she still left Dawson in his care.
Alexander and Berg were both arrested on October 16. He was charged with injury to a child, tampering with evidence, and stalking — and remained jailed on a $210,000 bond. She was initially charged with injury to a child by omission and posted a $100,000 bond. Court records show Berg later sought supervised access to Dawson, after being informed he was brain-dead and might be taken off life support.
With Dawson’s death confirmed, authorities in Collin County are reportedly preparing to upgrade charges to the highest level available. Family members, including the father, have urged justice and are calling for prayers and support as they mourn an unthinkable loss.
In his statement, Zamora expressed deep gratitude — to medical staff who gave him precious final moments with Dawson, to law enforcement and prosecutors working toward justice, and to community members, friends, and even strangers who have offered kindness. But beneath the gratitude lies the raw pain of a parent forced to bury his child. “My son didn’t have to die — this could have been prevented,” he said, his voice heavy with sorrow.
As the investigation proceeds, the hope now is for accountability, and perhaps a measure of healing. But for Zamora and everyone who loved little Dawson, nothing will ever return what was lost.
