Georgia – The East Point Police Department announced on Thursday that it may take up to two weeks to positively identify a child’s body discovered at a waste collection site. This grim finding comes after a week-long search for two-year-old J’Asiah Mitchell, who was reported missing. The police believe there is a “high probability” that the body belongs to J’Asiah, a sentiment shared by the family. The community and law enforcement have been deeply affected by the desperate search, with authorities even draining a pond in their efforts to locate the toddler.
The investigation took a significant turn when a child’s body was discovered at the East Point Transfer Station. The breakthrough came from analyzing data from J’Asiah’s father’s cell phone, which led the authorities to the location. Artavious North, J’Asiah’s father, initially reported that his son was kidnapped during an armed robbery, but cell phone records indicated that he was not in DeKalb County that night. As a result, North has been charged with false statements and false reports of a crime.
The police are now focused on positively identifying the child and determining the cause of death. Detectives involved in the case are receiving grief counseling as they await confirmation of the body’s identity. East Point Police Chief Buchanan emphasized the emotional impact of the situation, as many of the investigators are parents themselves. Despite the difficulties, their determination to bring justice to the person responsible for this tragedy remains unwavering.
Once the body is identified, Chief Buchanan will meet with the district attorney to ensure that all necessary preparations are made for potential charges. Currently, J’Asiah’s father is the only person of interest in the investigation. The community has been urged to respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time.