COLUMBUS, Ohio — An 8-year-old boy was found dead in the attic of a Columbus home and now his mother and her girlfriend are facing criminal charges.. Johnna Lowe, 33, is charged with obstruction of justice. Both are being held in the Franklin County Jail after surrendering to police Saturday afternoon,
The Franklin County Coroner has ruled Martonio’s death a homicide after “deep neck compression” was found on the boy, WBNS reports. Martonio was found in the attic Friday after his mother and two of her other children, ages 9 and 3, were subjects of an Amber Alert, reports say. Police were called to their home Friday afternoon on a missing child report. Wilder reportedly told police that Martonio had not been seen since Thursday night, when he was put to bed between 9 and 10 p.m.
While police were searching the neighborhood, Wilder and Lowe left the home with the two other children without telling police, reports say. Martonio’s body was found in a trash bag at about 6:20 p.m. Friday hidden in the home’s attic, WBNS reports. The Amber Alert was issued at about 9 p.m. Friday. The other two children were found safe a short time later with Lowe’s mother, reports say.If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.