Four-year-old Ariel Garcia was reported missing on Wednesday under suspicious circumstances, sparking a frantic search by local, state, and federal investigators.
Sadly, Ariel's body was found just before 6 p.m. Thursday on Interstate 5 near Tacoma, south of Seattle.
His mother, 27-year-old Janet Garcia, has been arrested and faces charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and assault of a child.
The search for Ariel began after a relative reported him missing around 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
While the case didn't qualify for an AMBER Alert, authorities issued an Endangered Missing Persons Advisory to media and residents.
During the investigation, police noticed inconsistencies in Janet Garcia's statements.
They took her into custody for providing false information and impounded her car.
Local news affiliate KOMO reported details from an arrest affidavit that paint a disturbing picture.
Investigators found a significant amount of blood in the apartment Ariel shared with his mother.
Blood was also reportedly found on Janet Garcia's shirt.
According to the affidavit, Janet Garcia initially claimed that Ariel fell and hit his head that morning and that she took him to the hospital.
However, she allegedly left the hospital because of a long wait and then dropped Ariel off at a home in Seattle before boarding a bus.
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KOMO also reported that Ariel was at the center of a custody dispute between his mother and grandmother.
Court records show that Ariel's grandmother filed a petition for guardianship just two days before his disappearance.
The grandmother reportedly expressed concern in the petition about Janet Garcia's drug use and her ability to care for Ariel.
She stated that Garcia exhibited "violent and unpredictable" behavior, and would leave Ariel and another child unsupervised to go out drinking.
Authorities have not yet released the cause of Ariel's death, only stating it was the result of "homicidal violence."
Janet Garcia is currently being held without bond in the Snohomish County Jail.
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