8-year-old boy found dead in attic of Ohio home; mother and girlfriend arrested

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An 8-year-old boy was found dead in the attic of a Columbus home. Now his mother and her friend are facing criminal charges.

Lashanda Wilder, 32, the mother of Martonio Wilder, is charged with murder and obstruction of justice, according to WCMH Channel 4. Johnna Lowe, 33, is charged with obstruction of justice. Both are being held in the Franklin County Jail after turning themselves in to police Saturday afternoon, WBNS Channel 10 reports.

The Franklin County coroner has ruled Martonio’s death a homicide after the boy was found to have “deep neck compression,” WBNS reports.

Martonio was found in the attic on Friday after his mother and two of her other children, ages 9 and 3, were the subject of an Amber Alert, reports say. Police were called to their home on Friday afternoon for a missing person report. Wilder reportedly told police that Martonio had not been seen since Thursday night, when he was put to bed between 9 and 10 p.m.

While police were searching the neighborhood, Wilder and Lowe left the house with the other two children without telling police, reports say. Martonio’s body was found in a garbage bag in the attic of the house around 6:20 p.m. Friday, WBNS reports.

The Amber Alert was issued around 9 p.m. on Friday. The other two children were found safe and sound with Lowe’s mother a short time later, reports say.

Both women must appear in court on Monday.