By Jerald Jimenez
The East Point Police Department in Georgia confirmed Wednesday that the body found at a garbage collection station last month belongs to J’Asiah Mitchell, a 2-year-old boy who was reported missing by his father, who he now faces charges of murder, concealment of the death of another person, and cruelty to children.
The boy’s father, identified as 23-year-old Artavious North, reported on Aug. 16 that his son was abducted by armed robbers as he was leaving his apartment in DeKalb County.
Police began an intensive search for the boy, but discovered that North’s account was false and arrested him for lying to authorities.
North was identified as the prime suspect in the death of his son, who was last seen alive at another East Point apartment complex.
On August 23, police found the body of a child at a garbage transfer station in the same city and sent it to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
“The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has notified East Point detectives that the child found at the East Point transfer station on August 23, 2023 has been positively identified as J’Asiah Mitchell,” police said in a statement.
Police have not released the cause or motive of the boy’s death, but have announced that North will be indicted for murder, in addition to previous charges of false report and false statements. North has a bond hearing scheduled for September 1.
The case has shocked the community and has generated expressions of solidarity with the child’s maternal family, who asked for justice and appreciated the support received.
With information from the New York Post / Huff Post