A missing four-year-old boy from Washington state has been found dead and his mother has been charged with the gruesome murder in which she allegedly dumped his lifeless body on the side of the road.
Ariel GarcÃa’s body was found shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday along a stretch of Interstate 5 highway, less than 24 hours after a family member reported him missing under suspicious circumstances.
The Washington State Patrol issued an endangered missing person alert and launched a massive search for little Ariel that drew nearly 100 officers, agents and investigators from multiple jurisdictions, including the FBI.
The next day, the boy’s mother, Jessica Garcia, was arrested in Vancouver by Everett police.
Thursday along a stretch of road on Interstate 5 in Pierce County by Everett Police Department detectives, less than 24 hours after a relative will report his disappearance under suspicious circumstances.
When confronted by police, Garcia told them that her son had fallen out of bed and hit his head, and that she then dropped him off at someone’s apartment in Seattle.
When Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at the scene they said Garcia had blood stains on his shoes and shirt.
The apartment where Ariel GarcÃa lived with his mother Jessica GarcÃa
Police said Garcia had been a person of interest early in the investigation and they had been tracking his whereabouts.
Garcia was charged with first- and second-degree murder and first-degree assault of a child, according to a news release from the Everett Police Department.
She is currently being held in the Snohomish County Jail.
On March 25, two days before Ariel’s disappearance, the boy’s grandmother had granted emergency minor guardianship of her grandson, fox 13 reported.
He said his daughter has drug and alcohol problems that had worsened in recent months and described her as “violent and unpredictable, according to court documents,” the news outlet reported.
The grandmother reportedly told the court that her daughter should have limited or no visitation, citing child physical abuse.
After the court filing, Ariel mysteriously disappeared with a member of her family.
The girl’s grandmother, who was not named, feared for her own safety, according to a newspaper article. Everett Herald.
The grandmother said that if her daughter knew about the custody case, ‘she might hurt me or try to run away with Ariel and hurt her in the process.’
The Washington State Patrol issued an endangered missing person alert for Ariel in the early hours of March 28.
Officials said the case did not meet the criteria for an AMBER Alert. The state alert was distributed on social media and on people’s phones.
The boy’s body was found just minutes before the alert was issued, police said.
The Snohomish County Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy that will determine the manner and cause of his death.
A friend told investigators that Ariel and her mother were staying with her, according to FOX 13.
Garcia’s friend told the news outlet that she saw a “substantial” amount of blood on the ground, but that Ariel and her mother were nowhere to be found. Fox News reported.
When Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at the scene they said Garcia had blood stains on his shoes and shirt.
She told investigators her son had fallen out of bed and hit his head.
She reportedly said she tried to take him to a hospital in Everett, but the wait was too long, the Clark County newspaper reported, citing a police report, according to the Everett Herald.
The police took her into custody for make false and misleading statements just hours after Ariel was reported missing.
The same day, his vehicle, a blue 2013 four-door Nissan Sentra, was impounded by CCSO.
On March 25, two days before Ariel’s disappearance, the boy’s grandmother had granted emergency minor guardianship of her grandson.
An autopsy is being performed by the Snohomish County Medical Examiner, who will determine the cause and manner of death.
Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin released a statement regarding the boy’s tragic death and praised Everett Police and the other law enforcement partners who have been working on the case.
“I am completely heartbroken for Ariel Garcia’s family and friends and they will remain in my thoughts as they grieve this incredibly tragic loss,” he said.
Everett Police Chief John DeRousse spoke on behalf of his team.
‘On behalf of the Everett Police Department, I want to share our deepest condolences with the loved ones of young Ariel GarcÃa. “This is not the result we expected,”
‘I want to thank all of our partners who sprang into action to support this search effort. “Our investigation will continue and we will do everything we can to ensure there is justice for this young man.”
Everett Police Department Major Crimes Detectives are actively involved in this case and will continue to investigate.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Everett Police Department’s TIP LINE at (425) 257-8450 or tips@everettwa.gov.