According to the Brazoria County District Attorney's Office, they have obtained a warrant for the arrest of the dead infant’s mother, 27-year-old Caren Kohberger. The criminal complaint addresses statements Kohberger made to Galveston county law enforcement during a recorded interview on January 29, 2008.
Caren Kohberger said that Travis was awake all night, and that he had decided to go to the store early that morning, around 2 a.m. Almost two hours later Travis returned home, but was “freaking out,” Caren said. He was allegedly having flashbacks to his childhood, when he was sexually abused. Travis told Caren that he had to get out of the residence, because he was afraid of what he might do to his child.
Additionally, Caren told Sgt. Annie Almendarez that she knew Travis had been sexually abused as a child, and that he had sexually abused a child when he was a juvenile.
According to Caren’s interview, Alijah had been asleep during the morning of Travis’ erratic behavior. She allowed Travis to take Alijah, knowing the statement he had just made, and his past experiences and behavior.
According to the interview, that “was the last time she was aware that her child was alive.”
The warrant charges Kohberger with endangering a child because she "intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly and with criminal negligence, by act or omission engaged in conduct that placed Alijah Mullis, a child younger than fifteen years of age in imminent danger of death or bodily injury."
Unfortunately, investigators have been unsuccessful in apprehending Kohberger, who they believe has fled Texas to live with family in New York. At this time it remains unclear whether the FBI has been asked to get involved. If convicted, Kohberger faces a fine of up to $10,000 and a jail term from 180 days to two years.
On Feb. 5, Mullis was extradited back to Texas from Philadelphia, where he surrendered to police earlier this month. Mullis is currently being held on a charge of capital murder. A Galveston court has set his bond at $1.05 million. Prosecutors have not yet said if they will seek the death penalty.
For more information on this case, click here to read a Criminal Report Daily post from Feb. 04, 2008.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Caren Kohberger is asked to contact the Galveston Police Department at 409-765-3702.
Get more back at the blog.