Arizona Boy Jesse Wilson's Adoptive Mother Arrested in Connection With His Disappearance in 2016

The adoptive mother of Arizona boy Jesse Wilson has been charged in connection with the 2016 disappearance of the 10-year-old boy, police said.

In a press conference, Buckeye Police Chief Larry Hall announced Tuesday that Crystal Wilson was charged with abandonment or concealment of a dead body.

Crystal was arrested Monday at her current home in Gainesville, Georgia, and will be extradited to Buckeye. She lived in Buckeye in Maricopa County, Arizona, with Jesse at the time of his death.

Cynthia Lauderdale, Jesse's biological grandmother, expressed her gratitude to the men and women who worked the case. Lauderdale said they love the 10-year-old Arizona boy very much and know that he is in heaven with his mother.

Crystal initially contacted the Buckeye Police Department's non-emergency line in the early morning of July 18, 2016, reporting that her son had slipped out of their home.

There were reports in 2011 from Avondale police that there were allegations that Crystal's five children were being abused and underfed.

Responding officers checked the children for injuries and determined they were fed and there were no signs of abuse. Neighbors who lived near the family reported that the children were often seen knocking on doors asking for food.

Arizona Boy Jesse Wilson's Disappearance

Jesse Wilson suddenly disappeared from his Buckeye home. Crystal Wilson initially reported that he had run away and slipped out his bedroom window during the night.

Crystal had also made public pleas for help in his disappearance, with residents coming out by the hundreds to help search for the Arizona boy. In addition to the local search, there were also active police and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigations.

It was only in March 2018 that Jesse's remains were found on the side of the road, a few miles from his home. A medical examiner ruled his cause of death "undetermined." Jesse's biological family had suspected that Crystal played a part in his disappearance.

During Tuesday's press conference, Hall said there was not much evidence to move forward with earlier charges due to the state of remains.

Adoptive Mother's Involvement in Disappearance

According to Hall, all of their leads led back to Crystal Wilson being responsible for the Arizona boy's disappearance throughout the investigation.

The police chief noted that Crystal knew what happened to the boy but did not tell the police. Hall added that he believes the main cause of Jesse's death was neglect, citing "issues at the house."

Authorities connected Crystal to Jesse's body through the use of DNA and "visual evidence," placing her near the area where Jesse's remains were found.

Hall said authorities had collected DNA from Crystal's Jeep, with visual evidence placing her in the area where the remains were recovered. Lauderdale noted that she was hoping for a murder charge on Crystal, adding that she knows Crystal "killed" her grandson.

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Written by: Mary Webber

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