The biological father of a 4-year-old Washington boy whose body was found buried in a relative’s backyard has been arrested in connection with the child’s death.
Police in Aberdeen, Washington, arrested the 36-year-old man on suspicion of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, unlawful disposal of human remains, and making false statements to a public servant, according to KING 5.
The man has not been formally charged with any crimes as of this report.
Police became aware that the boy was missing on May 12 while responding to a missing child complaint concerning the suspect’s 6-year-old daughter. The girl was located without incident and no criminal charges resulted from the incident.
However, police learned during the investigation that the suspect’s son had not been seen for some time. Relatives requested a welfare check. APD officers spoke with the suspect at the time, who reportedly told them the boy was staying out-of-state with a relative.
Investigators contacted that relative and learned that the boy wasn’t with that individual either.
Police found Aiden’s body on May 15. His remains were buried at a property that was owned by his grandmother. Both the boy’s grandmother and his father lived at the property.
Aiden was previously in foster care, and his former foster family says they warned officials not to reunite the boy with his foster family.
“Something that we had been dreading. A fear of ours ever since he left,” Gary Lopez, who took care of Aiden from ages 1 to 3, told KING 5.
The Lopez family claims that Aiden would return from stays with his biological family dirty and they feared the boy hadn’t been fed enough and had been put in dangerous situations.
The family said they contacted Child Protective Services several times to express their concerns. Magali Lope said in addition to CPS, they contacted Aiden’s social worker and their foster agency express their fears, but the boy was ultimately returned to his biological parents.
“They voiced their concerns to Child Protective Services and the DCYF, and the foster parents said, ‘We think this child is in trouble. Please look into it.’ But the foster parents weren’t listened to,” Washington State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh said, according to The Daily World. “Their fears were realized.”
Magali Lopez said that she is angry that their warnings were ignored, and said that “everyone failed” the little boy.
The incident that led to Aiden’s death is still being investigated, police said.
More details here...
