AMBER Alert Boy Found Dead in Family Home, Mother and Girlfriend Wanted for Questioning

An 8-year-old Ohio boy who was the subject of an AMBER Alert in June before he was found dead in an attic weighed 35 pounds when he died, according to a recently-released autopsy report.

On June 27, Martonio Wilder’s body was reportedly discovered in a trash bag in the attic of his Columbus home. His mother and her girlfriend, Lashanda Wilder and Johnna Lowe, have pleaded not guilty to killing the boy — who coroners determined died from asphyxia by anterior neck compression, according to WSYX.

READ: Mother Charged with Murder, 8-Year-Old AMBER Alert Boy Found Hidden in Attic with Deep Neck Wound

LaShanda Wilder and Johnna Lowe/Columbus Division of Police

The autopsy report stated that Martonio Wilder was 35 pounds and 49 inches. The 8-year-old reportedly suffered severe muscle loss, in addition to malnutrition, dehydration, and blunt trauma.

Reports indicated that police responded to the slain boy’s home 13 times since early 2013 for domestic disturbances, including a stabbing. Franklin County Children’s Services told WSYX that the agency had been involved with the family since February 2022.

According to the news outlet, Lashanda Wilder appeared in court on Tuesday. She and her girlfriend are accused of starving her son and keeping him in a closet. They allegedly also beat the boy and choked him with an extension cord.

Lashanda Wilder and Lowe are charged with murder, abuse of a corpse, felonious assault, endangering children, and tampering with evidence. Lashanda Wilder’s bond was set at $2 million. Lowe has a bond hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

[Feature Photo: Martonio Wilder/Columbus Division of Police]

 

 

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