CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. -- Clayton County authorities are hoping the case of a toddler who went missing last year doesn't end in tragedy.
The Clayton County Police Department held a news conference after New Mexico authorities said they found a child's remains on a compound - the same compound that was raided and led to 11 other children being found and taken away from there last week.
Four-year-old Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj was not there among them.
Authorities described the area as "third-world" living conditions.
Abdul-Ghani's mother reported him missing in December 2017. Abdul-Ghani was allegedly abducted by his father, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, The mother of Abdul-Ghani called Clayton County police on Dec. 10 and told authorities that she hadn't seen her son since Dec. 1, when Siraj said he was taking him to the park. Abdul-Ghani was 3 years old at the time.
PHOTOS: Father of missing boy arrested
Siraj and four other people were arrested during the raid at the compound. They are facing 11 counts of child abuse.
"The 3-year-old that was reported missing back on Dec. 10, of 2017 is currently still missing," said Maj. Crag Hammer of Clayton County Police. "Of course, we're hoping that the body that was found on the compound is not the missing child that we have here in Clayton County.
The medical examination still has to be completed to positively identify the remains.
Tuesday evening in New Mexico, Taos County Sheriff Jerry L. Hogrefe said the remains were found on the inner portion of the compound.
"Yesterday, at 11:19 a.m. we did find remains of a young boy," said Sheriff. Hogrefe said. "Those have been turned over to the Office of Medical Investigations."
Maj. Hammer called the update heartbreaking.
"No one wants to not only lose a child, but also have them disappear with a spouse or someone that they may not even know," he said. "But in this case, we knew for a fact that the child was with the father and through investigative efforts we were able to track down the location out there in New Mexico."
This case is still under investigation.
ADDITIONAL LINKS |
- Several missed opportunities in search for missing boy, dad captured in New Mexico
- Five people, including two Atlanta men, charged with 11 counts of child abuse in New Mexico
- Five people, including two Atlanta men, charged with 11 counts of child abuse in New Mexico
- Suspected Clayton County child abductor arrested at New Mexico compound
- Search continues for missing Jonesboro boy after father's arrest at New Mexico compound
