COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Two women wanted in connection with the death of an 8-year-old Columbus boy turned themselves in Saturday.
Arrested were the child’s mother, Lashanda Wilder, 32, and Johnna Lowe, 33, capping a day-long effort to find them after the body of 8-year-old Martonio Wilder was found hidden in the attic of his family home.
Murder charges have been filed against Wilder. She and Lowe were also charged with obstruction of justice. Both are scheduled to be arraigned on Monday at 9 a.m.
Martonio’s body was found Friday night, shortly before an Amber Alert was briefly issued for two of his brothers, who were found safe and placed in the custody of Franklin County Children Services.
Columbus police officers were first called to the house, in the 1000 block of Olmstead Avenue, around noon by Wilder, court records showed. They spoke with her and Lowe, with Wilder saying she last saw Martonio on Thursday night.
Police issued a missing person’s advisory for Martonio but did not elevate it to an Amber Alert. They began a K-9 search of the neighborhood, after which Wilder and Lowe left without telling police where they were going. With them were the other two children, ages 9 and 3.
After police could not reach Wilder, a search warrant was obtained for the house, leading to the discovery of Martonio’s body. Court records said the body was found in the attic in a trash bag that had been placed in a bivy cover. He was pronounced dead at 6:33 p.m.
The other two children were left with an acquaintance of Lowe’s, while Lowe and Wilder left separately. The brothers were found after the Amber Alert was issued, and arrest warrants were issued Saturday for both women. Police say they were taken into custody about 5 p.m.
Both women are scheduled to be arraigned in Franklin County Municipal Court on Monday morning.
Franklin County Children Services said it had been involved with Wilder and her family since May 2022 but did not specify how.
On Saturday night, a candlelight vigil was held in honor of Martonio. Dozens gathered to lean on one another and remember Martonio for who he was.
“He was just a joyful little boy. Respectful, I don’t know,” Randella Retland, a close friend to the Wilder family, said.
“He was just a normal kid. He was a normal kid that wanted to be a kid. It was taken from him. It was taken from him. I don’t know why,” Lovrocka Newbern, a close friend to the Wilder family, said.
Both Retland and Newbern said they love him and are going to miss him.
“Shouldn’t have happened, at all,” Newbern said. “At all.”