Plan to rename bridge in honor of Maleah Davis moves forward

FULTON, Ark. (KSLA) - The Arkansas Highway Commission unanimously approved a proposal to rename a Hempstead County bridge in honor of Maleah Davis on Wednesday, advancing the planned memorial one step further.

Remains of the 4-year-old girl from Houston were found on the side of an I-30 exit ramp on May 31 in Fulton, prompting Hempstead County leaders and residents to call for a nearby bridge to be dubbed the “Maleah Davis Memorial Bridge.”

“This baby was left on the side of the road not 500 feet from [the bridge]. A cruel thing happened to her in our county,” says Sheriff James Singleton, who helped lead the renaming effort.

“Our county wants to remember this young child, bringing attention to keep your babies close."

The Arkansas Department of Transportation says it usually takes much longer for naming requests to be approved.

“This is one that the commission felt strongly about and was happy to do so,” said spokesperson Danny Straessle. Straessle says it’s now up to the County to design and purchase signs for the bridge.

Sheriff Singleton aims to get that done as soon as possible.

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