Wisconsin: Missing Boy Found Dead in Dumpster
The body of a missing 5-year-old Wisconsin boy, Prince McCree, has been discovered in a dumpster, leading to a homicide investigation, per the NY Post.
Two individuals, a 27-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy, have been taken into custody as "persons of interest" in the case.
Prince McCree was reported missing on Wednesday afternoon after his father woke from a nap to find him gone, as reported by WDJT.
The police located his body at approximately 10 AM on Thursday inside a trash container situated behind a bar approximately a mile from the boy's residence.
The cause of Prince's death is currently pending investigation.
State Senator LaTonya Johnson, residing across the street from Prince's family, revealed that the two individuals in custody lived in the same multi-unit home as the deceased boy.
A family fundraiser suggested that a mentally ill man residing in the building was "responsible for this senseless act," according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Alderman Michael Murphy, representing the neighborhood where the boy's family lives, expressed shock and described the situation as a "terrible tragedy" for the community.
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No Amber Alert for the Missing Wisconsin Boy
Notably, there was no Amber Alert issued for the missing Wisconsin boy. This raised concerns among community members as nearly 24 hours passed between Prince McCree's disappearance and the discovery of his body.
Wisconsin has issued approximately 50 Amber Alerts since 2003, widely disseminated through various communication channels, FOX6 News noted.
However, no Amber Alert was issued for the Wisconsin boy during his family's search.
Senator LaTonya Johnson stated that Milwaukee police had requested an Amber Alert, but it was not issued due to specific criteria that Prince McCree did not meet.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the criteria for an Amber Alert include the child being 17 years of age or younger, being in danger of serious bodily harm or death. The police having descriptive information about the child, suspect, and/or suspect vehicle to justify an immediate broadcast alert. It remains unclear which of these criteria Prince McCree's case did not meet.
What Happened to Wisconsin Boy, Prince McCree?
Prince McCree was last seen at 9 AM on Wednesday near his home in the Uptown neighborhood. He was reported missing four hours later, according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Milwaukee police subsequently issued a "critically missing" alert around 8:30 PM. These alerts are reserved for missing persons who may be in immediate danger.
In the case of children aged 11 or younger, they are automatically considered "critically missing" under Milwaukee police policy.
Family members, including Prince's parents, were engaged in a door-to-door search for the young boy throughout Wednesday night.
Tragically, a Wisconsin boy's body was discovered just before 9 AM Thursday inside a dumpster near North Hawley Road and West Vliet Street.
Milwaukee police announced the arrest of "two persons of interest," the 27-year-old man and the 15-year-old boy, on Thursday.
While the identities of these individuals have not yet been released, the fundraiser for Prince's family, organized by Marie Stillo, Prince McCree's cousin, indicated that two nearby men were believed to be responsible for this "senseless act," with one of them reportedly suffering from a mental illness.
Stillo emphasized that the family is now focused on healing and cherishing the memory of Prince.
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Written by: Bert Hoover
WATCH: Child found dead in dumpster; police work to identify the victim - From WISN 12 News