COLUMBUS, Ohio (TCN) — A 32-year-old mother and her 33-year-old girlfriend were arrested after the mother's 8-year-old son was found dead in their attic after being reported missing.
On June 28th at 12:04 p.m., Columbus Police Department officers responded to the 1000 block of Olmsted Avenue in reference to a missing child and spoke with the boy’s mother, LaShanda Wilder. She stated that her son, Martonio Wilder, was last seen at about 9:30 p.m. the night before when she was in bed. Detectives from the Missing Persons Unit determined that a conspiracy may have been involved in his disappearance and requested assistance from the Homicide Unit. At about 6:20 p.m., detectives found Martonio Wilder dead inside the home.
The coroner ruled his death a homicide. According to court documents cited by the Columbus Dispatch, Wilder’s cause of death was “deep compression of the neck.” His body was reportedly placed in a garbage bag, which was placed inside a sleeping bag cover.
Lashanda Wilder and her girlfriend Jonah Rowe fled after his body was found but handed themselves in to police on June 29.
Police searched the home with cadaver dogs, and the other children were placed in the care of Rowe's relatives, but are now in the care of Franklin County Family Services.
Lowe was arrested on suspicion of obstruction of justice, while Wilder was charged with murder and obstruction of justice.
The Columbus Dispatch reports that Franklin County Family Services has been working with LaShanda Wilder for about two years. They visited the home the day before Martonio Wilder was found dead.
“There were little things that didn’t seem like they would lead to something of this magnitude, but were red flags,” Martonio Wilder’s cousin, Seaia Glover, told the Columbus Dispatch. “We’re all shocked. She’s been supported. There’s no excuse for this boy to be dead. There’s no reason for him to be stuck in the attic like he wasn’t important.”
Martonio Wilder's family told the Columbus Dispatch that the boy's favorite word was “I love you.”
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