In Ohio, a mother and her partner have been arrested following the tragic death of an eight-year-old boy.
His body was discovered in the attic of their home, wrapped in a garbage bag.
Martonio Wilder, just eight years old, was found in the attic of his family’s house in the Milo-Grogan neighborhood on Friday.
The coroner’s office concluded that Martonio died from “deep neck compression,” according to court records obtained by NBC4.
Lashanda Wilder, 32, Martonio’s mother, called Columbus Police around noon on Friday, stating that she last saw her son on Thursday night at bedtime.
A missing person’s advisory was issued for Martonio, and a K9 search of the neighborhood was initiated.
However, the court records reveal that Wilder became “uncooperative” during the search, even refusing to let the K9 unit into her home.
While the search was ongoing, Wilder and her partner, Johnna Lowe, 33, left without notifying the police, taking Wilder’s two other children, aged three and nine, with them.
Later that day, Martonio’s body was discovered, and he was pronounced dead at around 6:30 p.m.
Police briefly issued an Amber Alert for his brothers, who were later found safe and placed in the care of Franklin County Children’s Services.
Following the discovery, arrest warrants were issued on Saturday for both Wilder and Lowe, who eventually turned themselves in.
On Monday, during arraignment hearings at the Franklin County Municipal Court, Wilder, who did not attend the hearing, was charged with murder and obstruction of justice after Martonio’s death was ruled a homicide.
She was issued a $2 million bond. Lowe, facing obstruction of justice charges, received a $500,000 bond.
On Saturday evening, Martonio’s family, including many young cousins, gathered outside the home to mourn his loss.
They lit candles and released balloons in his memory.
“I’m still in disbelief because how dare you; if you didn’t love your son, you should’ve let him stay with people who love him,” said Rachelle Knight, Lashanda Wilder’s aunt, speaking to WBNS.
“Martonio was a bright kid. All he wanted was to be loved.”
Martonio’s cousin, Seia Glover, expressed shock and sadness to the Columbus Dispatch, stating, “Some of the minor things that were red flags but didn’t really seem like they would lead to something of this magnitude, it caught us all off guard. She had support.”
“There’s no excuse for this boy to be dead. There’s no reason for him to be stuffed up in the attic like he didn’t matter,” Glover added.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Martonio’s tragic death, seeking justice for the young boy and answers to the many questions that remain.
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