8-Year-Old Murdered as he Tried to Protect Younger Sister From Mom's Boyfriend

On September 1, 2017, Elizabeth Salone asked her ex-boyfriend, Deandre Chaney Jr. to watch her three young children while she dropped her brother off at work. The couple had a disagreement the night prior but Salone assumed it was over. He agreed to watch the kids. Salone returned home about 40 minutes later at 6:10 a.m. hearing one of the children crying in a bedroom. As she headed toward the crying child, Chaney Jr. struck her in the back of the head with a hammer and tied her up.

Salone managed to free herself from the ropes and escaped the home as Chaney Jr. doused lighter fluid across the floors, walls, and furniture. The shocked neighbor called 9-1-1.

A Gruesome Discovery Inside the Home

Inside the Melinda Way home, Salone’s 8-year-old son, Dante, and 7-year-old daughter Donae clung to life after Chaney Jr. beat them with the same hammer used to attack the mother of three.

Paramedics found the children inside the home. Dante, Donae, and Salone were all transported to a Sacramento hospital for treatment of their injuries. Doctors declared Dante brain dead a short time after his arrival at the hospital. He died six days later. Salone survived her injuries, though was left with serious injuries to her eye. Donae survived her injuries but was left without an eye and will require extensive treatment the rest of her life.

The Attack

Dante walked in on Chaney Jr. (allegedly) sexually assaulting his younger sister. He attempted to fight off Chaney Jr and defend his sister. That’s when Chaney Jr. retrieved the hammer and repeatedly struck both kids in the head and body.

Family members described Dante as a “sensitive” third-grader who loved baseball. His grandmother. Monique Brown, told KFVS 12 that Dante would always hide in a corner and wait for someone to come give him a hug if he became upset or sad. He never played with rough kids and was always happy, the grandmother contended.

'Trying to save his sister from this child molester, and that's why he was beat the worst,' said Monique Brown, to the station.

Chaney Flees the Scene

Before Salone escaped from the home, Chaney stole her car keys, cellphone, and cash. After she escaped, Chaney took these items and fled the home in her car. Police later found Salone’s car but Chaney was nowhere to be found.

Chaney had cut off his parole ankle monitor and headed to Salt Lake City on an Amtrak train. He was arrested on September 2, 2017, after police found him wrapped in a tarp in a shed on the Winnemucca reservation in Nevada.

Prior Criminal History

Chaney Jr. was charged with murder, attempted murder, and sexual assault. His prior criminal history includes several felony convictions, including those for battery with serious bodily injury and first-degree burglary. He also faied to register as a sex offender in 2016. He had several violent convictions against him as a juvenile as well, including second-degree robbery, forced oral copulation, and rape.

Despite Chaney’s extensive criminal history which includes rape and battery convictions, Salone said she had “no idea” he could be so violent and had no reason to suspect he would hurt her children.

Case Aftermath

He was eligible for a three-strikes life sentence due to his numerous felony convictions. However, updated case information is not currently available. As of 1-19-22, Chaney Jr.’s name does not currently appear in a California prison inmate search.

Dante lives on through a 4-year-old California girl. After his death, his family donated his organs so that other kids could live.

Resources & More Case Information--

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/09/26/attacked-with-a-hammer-this-third-grader-died-trying-to-defend-his-little-sister-family-says/

https://people.com/crime/calif-boy-allegedly-attacked-hammer-dies/

https://fox40.com/news/grieving-grandmother-speaks-out-after-hammer-attack-kills-her-grandson-injures-her-daughter-and-granddaughter/