COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Franklin County Coroner’s Office released its autopsy report Wednesday detailing what caused the death of 8-year-old Martonio Wilder on June 28.
According to the report, Martonio’s death was the result of "asphyxia by anterior neck compression." It also lists "blunt trauma to the head, severe malnutrition and dehydration" as other significant findings.
Martonio's mother, LaShanda Wilder, and her girlfriend Johnna Lowe were indicted in July on charges of murder, abuse of a corpse, endangering children, felonious assault and tampering with evidence in the boy's death.
They both pleaded not guilty.
RELATED: Bodycam video shows family’s concern for 8-year-old Columbus boy’s safety 6 months before his death
What happened
Officers were called to a home on Olmstead Avenue on reports of a missing child on June 28. When officers arrived, they spoke to LaShanda, who reported that Martonio was last seen between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. when he was put to bed the night before.
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, LaShanda 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 June 28, 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.
Records from the Franklin County Coroner’s Office revealed the attic was about 2 feet tall, and otherwise empty, filled with dust and dirt.
Court records say the coroner's office ruled Martonio's death a homicide.
Martonio’s autopsy pictures revealed visible bruises on the boy’s face around his eyes, nose and mouth, as well as lacerations and cuts on his face and back. Pictures also showed bleeding on the brain and that his body appeared abnormally thin.
Around 9 p.m. that day, an Amber Alert was issued for Martonio's two 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.
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. They turned themselves in to the police the following day.
