Body Found Believed to Be That of Missing 8-Year-Old Ohio Boy; Arrest Warrants Issued for Mother, Girlfriend

UPDATED at 11:55 a.m.:

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

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Arrest warrants have been issued for LaShanda Wilder, 32, and her girlfriend, Johnna Lowe, 33. Both were 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 report that her son Martonio Wilder was missing, according to our partner. WBNS news in Columbus.

LaShanda said Martonio was last seen Thursday night while he was in bed.

Court documents obtained by WBNS show that police initially searched the home and found nothing. A K-9 dog was called in. At that point, LaShanda became “uncooperative” and wouldn’t let the dog into her home. She then left the area with Lowe and two other children.

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

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Police have not confirmed the circumstances of the boy’s death, 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 his mother. LaShanda and Lowe were not there.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of LaShanda and Lowe or 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).