Four-year-old Ariel Garcia (left, middle) was found dead along a Washington state highway on March 29, 2024, a day after he disappeared. His mother Janet Garcia is now facing a murder charge. Everett police took Garcia, 27, into custody hours after her son was reported missing and impounded her car. (Everett Police Department)
A Washington state mother is behind bars after authorities found her 4-year-old son dead on the side of the road, cops say.
Janet Garcia, 27, is facing charges of first- and second-degree murder and assault of a child in the death of Ariel Garcia in Everett, which is about 30 miles north of Seattle.
A relative reported Ariel missing under “suspicious circumstances” around 4 p.m. Wednesday, the Everett Police Department said in a press release. About 100 local, state and federal investigators launched an extensive search and determined the boy was last seen Wednesday morning. While the case did not meet the criteria for an AMBER alert, the Washington State Patrol on Thursday issued an Endangered Missing Persons Advisory to the media and local residents.
Police police said they placed Garcia in custody a few hours after Ariel’s disappearance for making “false and misleading statements” to investigators. They also impounded her car. Cops found Ariel’s body just before 6 p.m. Thursday along I-5 in the Tacoma-area which is south of Seattle. Garcia was arrested on Friday.
“I am completely heartbroken for the family and friends of Ariel Garcia and they will remain in my thoughts as they grieve this unbelievably tragic loss,” said Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin in a statement.
Local ABC affiliate KOMO, citing an arrest affidavit, reported investigators found a large amount of blood in the apartment where Ariel and his mother lived. She also had blood on her shirt, the affidavit reportedly said.
She reportedly claimed Ariel had fallen and hit his head that morning and she took him to the hospital. But the wait was “too long so she left,” the affidavit reportedly said. She then dropped the boy off at a home in Seattle while she boarded a bus, she claimed.
Ariel also was at the center of a custody dispute between his mother and grandmother, KOMO reported. Court records obtained by the TV station said Ariel’s grandmother filed a petition for guardianship two days before he went missing.
“I love my grandson, and I want to protect him from whatever his mom is capable of while she is on drugs. He trusts me and feels safe with me. Since I have cared for Ariel all these years, I am already aware of his needs,” his grandmother reportedly wrote in an affidavit.
The grandmother went on to say that Garcia is “not capable of parenting” while on drugs and has been exhibiting “very violent and unpredictable” behavior, the petition reportedly said. Garcia also would allegedly leave Ariel and another child alone without supervision so she could go to the bar and drink alcohol.
Authorities have not given the cause of Ariel’s death other than to say he died of “homicidal violence.”
Garcia was taken to the Snohomish County Jail where she’s being held without bond.
“On behalf of the Everett Police Department, I want to share our condolences with the loved ones of young Ariel Garcia. This is not the outcome we had hoped for,” Everett Chief of Police John DeRousse said in a statement.
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