COLUMBUS, Ohio — A $2 million bond was set for a Columbus mother charged with murder in the death of her 8-year-old son. Her girlfriend was given a $500,000 bond.
LaShanda Wilder, the 32-year-old woman accused of killing her 8-year-old son Martonio Wilder, was scheduled to appear in Franklin County Municipal Court on Monday. She did not appear after a judge declared her to be unruly. She received a $1.5 million bond for the murder charge and $500,000 for the obstruction of justice charge.
Wilder's girlfriend, 33-year-old Johnna Lowe, appeared in court for her arraignment. She is charged with obstruction of justice.
Arrest warrants were issued for the couple this past weekend after court records stated that Martonio Wilider's body was found inside the attic of a Columbus home Friday evening. They turned themselves in on Saturday.
Officers were called to a home on Olmstead Avenue on reports of a missing child Friday afternoon. When officers arrived, they spoke to Wilder, who reported that Martonio was last seen between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Thursday when he was put to bed.
Records from the Franklin County Municipal Court show officers searched the home without success, and the Missing Persons Unit responded.
Detectives had a K-9 cadaver dog called in to search the home. Court records say, at that time, Wilder became "uncooperative" and didn't want the dog inside her home. She left the area with Lowe and two other children.
Around 6:20 p.m. on Friday, a body matching the description of Martonio was found hidden in the home's attic in a trash bag and sleeping bag cover, according to court records. Firefighters pronounced him dead at 6:33 p.m. and foul play was suspected in his death.
Court records say the coroner's office ruled Martonio's death a homicide. Records also say the coroner found "deep neck compression" on the child.
Around 9 p.m. Friday, an AMBER Alert was issued for Martonio's two siblings and Wilder. The two siblings were safely located at Lowe's home with her mother on East 18th Avenue a short time later. Wilder and Lowe were not there.
Detectives and family members tried to reach both women with no success.
Wilder and Lowe left during the active investigation and did not call detectives to explain their disappearance or ask about the investigation, according to court records.