Scorched earth is all that remained Saturday in a hidden, wooded area in southeast Houston where the bodies of two missing children were found, KPRC Local 2 reported.
“It was like diving into the depths of hell and straight up dealing with the devil,” Quanell X said.
The community activist was instrumental in getting Randy Sylvester Sr., who is the children’s father and sole suspect, to reveal the location of the bodies of 3-year-old Denim and 7-year-old Randy Sylvester Jr.
After leading Pasadena police to two ponds, Sylvester led Quanell X to the final site off of Allendale Road near Old Galveston Road late Friday.
“Both children were partially incinerated,” Capt. Bud Corbett said. “One (was) in what appeared to be remains of a wooden chest and the other (was) in a suitcase.”
That unsettling discovery came after more than five days of searching for the missing children and after an incident where Sylvester threatened reporters, including a KPRC Local 2 crew.
Quanell X said he also noticed that Sylvester was combative at first. Despite that, he said he tried to give him the benefit of the doubt but that changed when Sylvester showed him what he called his “doghouse.”
The so-called “doghouse” is a separate apartment in the same complex where Sylvester spent time away from his wife, but where the children often visited.
According to Quanell X the apartment was filthy and filled with pornography.
“At that moment, along with some other questions that detectives were asking, I knew in my heart that that brother was not innocent,” Quanell X said.
After repeatedly pleading with the father Quanell X said Sylvester finally opened up Friday.
Instead of pointing investigators to the gruesome scene, Sylvester insisted that Quanell X join him and see it in person.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be disturbed about (that), possibly the rest of my life,” Quanell X said, visibly shaken by the memory. “When we were walking it was like he wanted me to see it.”
Those who searched for Randy Jr. and Denim, including Tim Miller with Texas Equusearch, said they knew there was a chance this would end with tragedy, but the children’s fate was hard to accept.
“I don’t believe it’s all sunk in yet,” Miller said. “I just think we’re all in shock.”
Quanell X would not say if Sylvester made a confession, but did share how he feels about Sylvester after this gut-wrenching experience.
“The closest I could get is just straight cold-blooded,” Quanell X said.
Quanell X later told reporters that throughout the process, Sylvester showed very little remorse. He seemed more concerned with his own self-preservation than with the children.
The children’s mother was not available for comment. Authorities said she had to be hospitalized after learning what happened to her children.
A prayer vigil will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday for the children near where their bodies were found.
