LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The search for a missing 2-year-old child ended in tragedy when the toddler's body was found inside a dumpster, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department says.
The child was reported missing from the area of Lewis Avenue and 15th Street at 8:25 p.m. on Thursday, and police said officers immediately began their search.
Just before 1 a.m., the 2-year-old was found inside a garbage dumpster a few blocks away, near Lewis Avenue and 13th Street. The toddler was pronounced dead at the scene by medical first responders.
Homicide detectives who took over the investigation identified the child's mother, 23-year-old Diaja Smith, as the suspect in the 2-year-old's death.
Kelvyn Barnett said he spoke with Smith at the 702 Market Thursday night around 9 p.m., just hours before police found the child's body
"I saw the lady sitting there with her two other kids, really hysterical and saying 'somebody took my kid, somebody took my kid,'" said Barnett. "She was really, really hysterical. She was clutching another one of her kids.
Barnett said police were also on scene asking him if he saw a missing 2-year-old child.
"As the officer was investigating her, I noticed there were some inconsistencies with her story," Barnett said.
Several neighbors told Channel 13 there was police presence for hours early Friday morning.
"Around 1:30 a.m., I got a knock on my door they handed me a flyer asking me if I saw this kid," said RJ Robinson.
David Santos also lives nearby and said there were several patrol cars and crime scene investigators on scene.
"It makes me want to move out of here," Santos said.
Smith was arrested and, as of this report, was booked into the Clark County Detention Center for open murder and other unspecified felony charges. She is scheduled to appear in court Saturday afternoon at 1:30.
Police asked anyone with information about this case to contact LVMPD's Homicide Section at 702-828-3521 or email homicide@lvmpd.com. Anonymous tips can be made through Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or online at crimestoppersofnv.com.
