Missing Toddler Dead: James Chairez's Remains Found at Texas Mobile Home
Texas authorities confirmed on Wednesday that the remains discovered at a mobile home trailer in San Antonio last month are those of missing toddler James Chairez.
The 18-month-old boy was last seen on January 4 with his mother, D'Lanny Chairez. The pair was reported missing in March, police said.
Officers later located the mother, and she was arrested on a charge of tampering with evidence about her son's disappearance, according to a WFTV report.
Police searching for the missing toddler reported that they had found his remains at a mobile home that D'Lanny Chairez and her son previously had.
In a statement released on Wednesday, authorities confirmed that the remains had been identified by the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office as the missing toddler. James Chairez's cause of death was not immediately known, and it was still unclear when James died.
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D'Lanny Chairez's Case
D'Lanny Chairez's bail was recently reduced from $250,000 to $150,000, and a trial date was set on June 16. However, Bexar County District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales said that additional charges were possible.
Family members said that D'Lanny had been living with the child in the mobile home and was working as a waitress at the time of the toddler's disappearance, San Antonio Express-News reported.
D'Lanny's aunt Marisol Gomez said that the child would have been two years old in July. Gomez said that this was something she never thought she would have experienced in her life.
She said investigators told her that they had used a DNA sample provided by D'Lanny and found that it matched with the remains. Gomez said that detectives told her the autopsy would not be finished until July at the earliest.
D'Lanny was reported to have concealed her son from investigators with SAPD and Child Protective Services. According to court documents, she allegedly refused to answer questions about where her son was at that time or if he was fine.
D'Lanny had earlier told investigators that she wanted to give up the child for adoption since she was not ready to be a mother, and she struggled with her mental health. The 20-year-old was also reported to have been suffering from depression.
D'Lanny also said that James Chairez deserved a better life, and she wanted her son to be in a better place. Family members noted that they had not seen the child since Thanksgiving. They said it was the time when the toddler tried gravy for the first time.
Gomez said she wanted D'Lanny to explain what occurred instead of hearing the details in court. Gomez added that D'Lanny had written a letter to Gomez's brother-in-law in Spanish asking for money for bail. However, she advised not to do so as D'Lanny is not being cooperative in the case.
D'Lanny earlier told Gomez that James Chairez was with a family friend. Gomez then questioned her and noticed that D'Lanny's story changed several times about who was caring for her son, Kens5 reported.
Court documents revealed that investigators had found what appeared to be a crib sheet with blood on it at the suspect's home. There were also baby diapers, a stroller, a car seat, and toys. Police continue to investigate and have yet to announce what further charges D'Lanny might face.
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WATCH: 'I'm so broken': Family of Baby James Chairez Devastated by Confirmation of His Death - From KSAT 12