Dead Toddler's Mom Accused Of Ignoring Lover's Text That Said He Wanted To 'Cull' Her Son

A Texas woman is facing child neglect charges after her boyfriend allegedly murdered her 2-year-old son. The mother is accused of ignoring text messages from her boyfriend that hinted he wanted to kill the child.

Amber McDaniel, 31, was indicted by a grand jury last Thursday with one count of child abandonment and endangerment and tampering with evidence, reported New York Post.

Amber's son, Jason McDaniel, was found dead in October 2018 when the woman was at her boyfriend's house in Wichita Falls for a sleepover. The boyfriend, James Staley, was later arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with the case.

During the investigation, police uncovered a series of disturbing texts and Facebook messages that Staley had allegedly sent to Amber. He had admitted to pushing the boy's face in a dirty diaper and repeatedly beating him, court documents released Wednesday showed.

In one of the text messages, Staley said the child needed to be "culled." He also used a racial epithet, saying "he would cure him of it" and that he wanted to beat or punch him. Staley also said he would put Jason in a tinderbox.

Ten days before the child's death, he reportedly told the mother that he hoped the toddler had "died from SIDS" or sudden infant death syndrome. Despite this, Amber continued to entrust the child to Staley and also stayed at his house with her son.

Amber also destroyed some of the threat messages she received from Staley, reported WFLA.

At the time, Amber was on a break from the toddler's dad, Bubba McDaniel. They have since then reconciled.

Bubba, who married Amber after the toddler's death, said his wife was tricked by a "master manipulator." He claimed Amber thought Staley was joking when he sent those messages.

"We've had these long, hard talks — and I stand behind my wife," he told WFLA. "Only one person killed my son. He's a full-on coward and he needs to be brought to justice."

The parents reportedly had sued Staley for more than $1 million for taking their "pride and joy away from them forever."