Ohio Amber Alert for two missing children in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Two brothers were found safe and sound, but Columbus police said they also found the body of a third child Friday night after an Amber Alert was issued.

Investigators were searching for two boys, a 9-year-old and a 3-year-old, but confirmed around 9:50 p.m. that they had found both. Sergeant James Fuqua of the Columbus Division of Police said they had not found Lashanda Delores Wilder, the boys’ 32-year-old mother who was named in the original Amber alert as the last person they were seen with.

Columbus police had previously issued an alert on Friday afternoon about another missing child, 8-year-old Martonio Wilder, but did not upgrade that case to an Amber Alert. In a press conference at 10:50 p.m., CPD Chief Elaine Bryant confirmed that police believed they had found Martonio’s body in the Wilders’ home. Fuqua confirmed that Martonio was the brother of the 3-year-old and 9-year-old.

In an update Saturday morning, police said Wilder and 33-year-old Johnna Lowe have been charged with obstruction of justice in the case. The Columbus Police Department’s Homicide Unit is investigating and is asking anyone with information on the suspects to call 614-645-4730.

Bryant said the mother called police at noon. Lashanda told them Martonio had disappeared from her home in the 1000 block of Olmstead Avenue and “he’s done this before.” The department noted in its earlier post that Martonio was last seen in the same area around 9:30 p.m. Thursday.

The chief said the Amber Alert was originally issued at 9:03 p.m. before investigators found two of the brothers alive at the home of a family member of Lashanda’s boyfriend at 9:29 p.m.

“We are treating this as a suspicious death,” Bryant said.

Deputy Chief Smith Weir could not confirm Martonio’s cause of death, but clarified that Lashanda was no longer a suspect in the death investigation as of Friday evening.

It is unknown what type of vehicle Wilder might be traveling in, and Bryant said they had no information on where she might be.

Police asked anyone with information to call 911 or 877-262-3764.