Melissa Towne: Tomball mom accused of stabbing 5-year-old daughter had history of CPS

TOMBALL, Texas (KTRK) — The 5-year-old girl, named Nichole, is always seen smiling in pictures, but the horror she endured is unimaginable.

Her mother, Melissa Towne, is accused of taking her into the woods of Spring Creek Park on Sunday, cutting her throat with a knife and suffocating her.

It was revealed in court that she strangled Nichole for more than half an hour when she realized the knife had not killed Nichole.

Nichole fought back and at one point even begged her mother, saying, “I was good.”

The mother responded, according to records, “Stop fighting it.”

Towne then said she sat on her daughter, covering her mouth with her hand and placing a garbage bag over her head. MPs say she took them to the hospital because she wanted to dispose of them.

According to records, Towne confessed to killing her daughter because she was “angry and didn’t want to deal with her anymore.”

According to family members, Nichole’s father had custody of her.

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They sent a statement to Eyewitness News:

“We ask for privacy and respect for Nichole’s father James and our family as we all figure out how to mourn her terrible loss and try to figure out how to move on from here. Nichole has grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins​​and a father that all loved her dearly and never imagined that such a tragic event would happen to such an innocent child. She will always hold a special place in all of our hearts. We will always remember her as the cutest little girl who never met a stranger. She was so full of love and giggles and her bright blue eyes shone with so much curiosity. We hope and pray that justice will be done and that the heartless monster that took our sweet girl from us will pay for the innocent life she took.”

Child Protective Services confirmed it was investigating, adding that Towne had a history of CPS.

A spokesman said they could not provide further details because CPS investigations are confidential by law.

One of Towne’s old neighbors said he had to call the police several times.

“We always knew she had mental health issues,” Alan Pffar said. “She would argue with my mailbox for no reason.

Pffar added that he even had to set up surveillance cameras because of Towne.

“One time she hit a car,” Pffar said. “I didn’t know it was hers. She hit it with a baseball bat.”

Family members tell ABC13 that Nichole and her father lived with his father and stepmother in Magnolia for a time. Neighbors who live on the quiet street said they all took turns looking after Nichole.

“He asked for help and whenever we could we all helped,” said a neighbor who asked to remain anonymous. “He loved her. He was the best dad he could be. We all knew something was wrong and she wanted the best for her baby. We kept her away and didn’t want anything to happen to her, so we tried to do what we could. But I absolutely can’t imagine anyone would do that to a child, and when you find out it’s someone you know, and especially a cute little baby, it breaks your heart.”

According to the CPS, Towne has three other children between the ages of 2 and 18. They are safe and living with other family members.

Towne is charged with capital murder and is behind bars on $15 million bail.

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