Thousand Oaks father who left 4-year-old daughter paralyzed sentenced to life in prison
Takquen Alexander (Ventura County DA's Office)
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced 28-year-old Tekquan Alexander has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after he was found guilty for a series of beatings that left his daughter in a vegetative state.
Alexander had previously been convicted by a jury of three felony accounts that included torture, assault on a child causing a comatose condition and corporal injury to a child.
"Today is Alani's birthday and, while no punishment can undo the lifetime of challenges she will face, her family knowing her perpetrator could spend his life behind bars is a small gift of justice," said Deputy District Attorney Rikole Kelly on Thursday, who prosecuted the case.
Investigators said that during Thanksgiving week 2021, Alexander punched and beat his 4-year-old daughter, Alani, with a belt. Days later, he beat her again, first with a belt, then with a stereo amplifier cable after she wet the bed. Officials said it didn’t end there.
He proceeded to beat her until she became unresponsive on the bathroom floor of their Thousand Oaks home.
Alani was transported to an area hospital and was then airlifted to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles where medical personnel diagnosed her with critical injuries including a brain injury, subdural hematoma, spinal compression, bone fractures, and countless contusions and abrasions.
Alexander was arrested in the case. During the investigation conducted by detectives with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, experts testified that Alani’s injuries were consistent with abusive head trauma.
Alani remains paralyzed and in a vegetative state.