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Police find body believed to be missing 8-year-old boy from Columbus, chief says

The coroner ruled the boy's death a homicide but could not say how he died.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus police say officers found a body in a home that is believed to be an 8-year-old boy who was declared missing on Friday.

Officers were called to a home in the 1000 block of Olmstead Avenue on reports of a missing child. When officers arrived, they spoke to 32-year-old LaShanda Wilder, who reported that her son, Martonio Wilder, 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 used drones and a helicopter and searched the neighborhood and other nearby areas to locate Martonio. 

Detectives had a K-9 cadaver dog called in to search the home. Court records say, at that time, LaShanda became "uncooperative" and didn't want the dog inside her home. She left the area with her girlfriend, 33-year-old Johnna Lowe, and two children.

Credit: Franklin County Jail

Around 6:20 p.m., 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 records. Firefighters pronounced him dead at 6:33 p.m. Foul play is suspected. 

Around 9 p.m. Friday, an AMBER Alert was issued for Martonio's two young siblings and LaShanda. The two siblings were safely located at Lowe's home with her mother on East 18th Avenue a short time later. LaShanda and Lowe were not there.

Detectives and family members tried to reach both women with no success.

LaShanda and Lowe turned themselves in to police Saturday evening around 5 p.m. LaShanda is charged with murder and obstruction of justice and Lowe is charged with obstruction of justice.

Franklin County Municipal Court records say the coroner's office ruled the death of Martonio a homicide. Records also say the coroner found "deep neck compression" on the child. 

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-8477 (TIPS).

This is a developing story. Stick with 10TV News as we gather more information.

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