Texas authorities believe that a child found dead in a motel room on Tuesday is missing the boy Samuel Olson and have arrested Theresa Balboa, the father’s friend.
Samuel, who would have turned 6 over the weekend, was originally reported missing by Balboa last Thursday.
At the time, she reportedly told officers that the boy’s mother and a police officer came to her home and took Samuel away, but authorities say their story fell apart upon investigation.
Authorities believe a body found Tuesday night in a motel room in Texas was Samuel Olson, who was reported missing last Thursday.
(Houston Police Department)
On Tuesday, the police received an anonymous tip from Jasper through Crime Stoppers and searched a motel, where they discovered the body of a boy.
“We currently believe the child is Samuel, but we cannot confirm that it is him until the coroner makes that decision,” Heather Morris, assistant director of the Houston Police Department, told a news conference Wednesday morning .
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Balboa was arrested at the motel and charged with evidence manipulation, but Morris said further charges are likely as the investigation progresses.
Theresa Balboa was arrested Wednesday and charged with manipulating evidence relating to the body of a boy found in a motel room.
(Houston Police Department)
Dalton Olson, the boy’s father, told KPRC 2 that he can’t understand why this tragedy was going to happen.
“I don’t know what’s going on. I found out what happened last night,” Dalton Olson told the local news agency on Wednesday. “I can hardly breathe.”
Balboa was released on bail following an incident in November in which she allegedly assaulted Dalton Olson.
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Morris said April 30 was the last day Samuel was at school and authorities are now trying to find out his whereabouts for the past month as well as how he ended up in Jasper, about 130 miles northeast of Houston .
“Our hearts go out to the members of the family of Samuel. We are very, very saddened by the events that brought us here today,” said Morris on Wednesday. “This is an absolutely tragic event and our prayers are for the family.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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