The body of a child found in a duffel bag in West Philadelphia in March has been identified as a 4-year-old boy who went missing late last year, authorities said
The investigation into the disappearance of Damari Carter began on Dec. 30, after family members contacted authorities to report the boy hadn’t been seen for weeks.
Investigators said the boy’s mother, 30-year-old Dominique Bailey, told relatives he had died after being struck by a car. However, officials found no evidence to support that claim.
Bailey was brought in for questioning a few days later, when she reportedly confessed to investigators she was involved in Damari’s death.
Later that day, police searched the home of a West Philadelphia man, Kevin Spencer, for more evidence. The 30-year-old, described by local TV station WPVI as Bailey’s boyfriend, was subsequently arrested.
In January, both Bailey and Spencer were charged with murder, conspiracy, endangering the welfare of children, criminal use of a communication facility, abuse of a corpse, false reporting and tampering with evidence.
While the young victim was presumed dead at the time, his remains were nowhere to be found.
But in March, workers with the Community Life Improvement Program found the body of a child stuffed inside a duffel bag in West Philadelphia.
The remains have now been confirmed to be those of the missing 4-year-old, CBS News Philadelphia reported.
A preliminary hearing for Bailey and Spencer is scheduled for June 18.
