WEINER, Ark. — The parents of a three-year-old boy are now in custody after the child was found dead at an Arkansas home on Thursday.
Sharece Monique Scott, 30, and Ridge Brandon Noel, 31, were arrested and charged with First-Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Minor.
The Weiner Police Department says the child was found unresponsive at a residence. The child’s cause of death is currently unknown.
The Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office said in a media release on Friday that Scott was not at the home when emergency personnel arrived. She was later found at a motel in Jonesboro, Ark. and was taken into custody at around 1:40 a.m. on Friday.
A search warrant was executed at the home, where officers reportedly found drugs, firearms (including one that was reported stolen), and a marijuana growing operation. Noel was taken into custody at that time.
The child’s body has been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy to determine a cause of death.
Four other children were reportedly in the house at the time of the incident. Officials say they are now in the care of family members.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this tragedy,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
“This is a very small community, and there really isn’t anyone in town who wouldn’t do anything for anyone,” local resident Deana Berryhill said.