Body found believed to be missing 8-year-old Ohio boy; Warrants issued for mother, girlfriend

COLUMBUS — UPDATE @ 11:55 a.m.:

Police have issued an arrest warrant for the mother of an 8-year-old boy whose body was found Friday evening in a Columbus home.

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Warrants have been issued for LaShanda Wilder, 32, and her girlfriend, 33-year-old Johnna Lowe. Both have been charged with obstruction of justice.

Columbus Police said the child’s mother, LaShanda, called officers to her home near Olmstead and St. Clair Avenues around noon Friday to that her son Martonio Wilder was missing, according to our news partner WBNS in Columbus.

LaShanda said Martonio was last seen Thursday night when he was put to bed.

Court records obtained by WBNS showed that police searched the home initially and did not find anything. A K-9 cadaver dog was called in. At that time, LaShanda became “uncooperative” and didn’t want the dog inside her home. She then left the area with Lowe and two other children.

Around 6:20 p.m., police found a body matching Martonio’s description was found hidden in the home’s attic. It was in a trash bag and sleeping bag cover, according to court records. He was pronounced dead at 6:33 p.m.

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Police have not confirmed how the boy died, but are calling it a suspicious death. Foul play is suspected.

Later Friday night, an AMBER Alert was issued for his brothers, King Wilder, 3, and Mikheal Simon, 9. Both were found safe at Lowe’s home with her mother. LaShanda and Lowe were not there.

Anyone with information about LaShanda and Lowe’s whereabouts or about the child’s death is asked to call the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-8477 (TIPS).

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