CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. — A man accused of murdering his step daughter, Kilah Davenport, stood before a judge Tuesday morning for a custody hearing.
Joshua Houser is also the father of Kilah's younger brother, Bladen. On Tuesday at the Cabarrus County courthouse, the judge chose to continue the case.
After leaving court, the Davenports told Channel 9 that they're ready to put this behind them.
Houser's attorney asked the judge for an extension Tuesday, but the Davenports were hoping a judge would terminate Houser's parental rights for Bladen Davenport, Kilah's 1-year-old brother.
The Davenports said Houser was in jail for severely abusing Kilah when Bladen was born. Kilah died a month after Houser was sentenced to seven years in prison for felony child abuse.
His charges were later upgraded to second-degree murder.
The Davenports said Houser has never been involved in Bladen's life.
"He will never be a part of the child's life. He has a father who has been in his life since he was born and that man has supported him and taken care of him, and that's who he knows as his father," said Leslie Davenport, Kilah's grandmother.
Since his arrest, Houser and the child's mother have divorced. She has since remarried.
A new hearing date has been set for next year.
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