MCKINNEY, TX – The shocking hospitalization of a three-year-old boy in McKinney has set off a criminal investigation that has landed both his mother and her boyfriend behind bars on serious child abuse charges.
Authorities in Collin County allege that Dawson Cain Zamora suffered extensive physical trauma before being rushed to a local hospital just north of Dallas on October 14. The boy arrived unconscious and clinging to life, with medical staff immediately noting that his injuries were far more severe and varied than what was initially reported.
Hospital records indicate that Christopher Thomas Alexander, 30, brought Dawson to the emergency room, explaining to staff that he had heard a noise and found the child injured. However, doctors reported that Dawson displayed a brain bleed, deep bruises in different stages of healing, and multiple internal and external injuries—raising alarm among the medical team that prompted a call to law enforcement.
Investigators quickly determined that the story didn’t add up. According to police documents, the child’s mother, Chelsea Rene Berg, 30, had left Dawson in Alexander’s care earlier that morning. Investigators say Berg received a normal midday text message about Dawson eating lunch, but later received a distressed call from Alexander about taking her son to the hospital.
Once police began their inquiry, Alexander reportedly stopped cooperating and hired a lawyer. Berg was brought in for questioning and maintained that Dawson was uninjured when she left home that day. She was later shown graphic photographs of her son’s condition and denied any prior knowledge of the injuries.
Both Alexander and Berg were arrested two days after the incident. Alexander faces multiple charges, including injury to a child with serious bodily injury, stalking and evidence tampering. Jail records confirm he remains incarcerated. Berg was released after posting bond, but a judge forbade her from contacting Dawson while the case unfolds.
The devastating state of Dawson’s injuries led to a heartbreaking update: Within days, doctors concluded he had no brain activity. In response, Berg’s legal team filed an emergency motion so she could see her son in person, a request the court granted on October 20.
The tragedy has sparked a wave of support online. Dawson’s relatives launched a fundraising campaign, sharing that the boy would need long-term medical and psychological care if he survived. They voiced their anguish and called attention to the lasting effects of the trauma he endured.
Meanwhile, Dawson’s father, Dahrian Zamora, traveled from Amarillo to be by his son’s side and has now gained custody of his children. Zamora said medical scans confirmed the presence of older bruises, suggesting the abuse had happened over time. He pointed to Alexander’s documented legal history, which includes a recent stalking indictment, theft, and unlawful restraint, and stated Alexander was wearing an ankle monitor during the latest incident.
Law enforcement officials remain tight-lipped about the ongoing investigation, which is expected to continue as new evidence is reviewed. Prosecutors are preparing their cases while community members urge accountability for those responsible.
As the legal process moves ahead, Dawson’s family continues to grapple with the trauma of a situation that has shaken their lives—and the McKinney community—to its core.